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Longveld

Due to local skills shortages, migrants make up one-third of the 60-strong workforce at Hamilton stainless steel fabricator Longveld Engineering. Just two of the migrants speak English as their first language.

The company goes to a great deal of effort to help new migrants settle, but last year realised that some employees’ lack of fluency was hampering performance.

The remedy was a tailored programme by Sadler & Associates that offers employees who needed help 1.5 hours of on-site numeracy and literacy training each week. Activities include filling in workplace forms, matching safety signs with words, and simple numeracy skills.

“Some of the trainees have gobbled up the course material unexpectedly quickly in their desire to learn,” says Pam Roa, Business Services Manager and Director. Components of a national certificate in occupational safety and health have since been included, so employees can earn a qualification as they learn.

Supervisor Tony Northcott says, “The employees in my team who are involved in the literacy and numeracy programme have improved out of sight. Their enthusiasm for their work has lifted dramatically and they continue to improve communication skills with the rest of the team.”

In 2009 Longveld Engineering won a Highly Commended Award at the annual EEO Skills Highway Awards, which celebrate organisations which actively invest in their diverse workforce and successfully tackle literacy and numeracy skills development.

Click here to see video testimonial.