“The Government is spending $40 million to improve the digital technology skills of school students, but employers say it is a lack of 'soft skills' such as teamwork, self-management and decision-making that makes many young New Zealanders unready for work.
“One rapidly-expanding programme is focusing on those skills, in the hope of cutting the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs).
“The Youth Employability Programme (YEP) started three years ago working with five Auckland schools, but this year it will train 836 students in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Porirua, Taranaki, Taupo, and Wairarapa, as well as Auckland.
“Students enrolled take part in 18 employment skills workshops, do 20 hours of voluntary work and 80 hours of work experience before being presented with a "licence to work" certificate to show prospective employers.
“It is run by COMET Auckland (formerly the City of Manukau Education Trust) with a steering group that includes the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Limited (ATEED), SkyCity, the Ministry of Education, Te Puni Kōkiri, NZQA, and the Ministry of Social Development…..”