ATTTO/HSI NZSkillsConnect Website

Two service industry training organisations have teamed up to produce an innovative careers website, NZSkillsConnect. The web portal is the outcome of the Career Maps and Pathways (CMP) initiative – a practical approach to increasing the profile of training and education in the broad tourism and hospitality sectors. The Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) and the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) funded the CMP project with some assistance from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

Attracting, recruiting and developing people into the aviation, hospitality and tourism sectors are major contributors to national economic success and business sustainability. Because of the fundamental role these sectors play in New Zealand’s economy, in fluctuating economic conditions it is essential to promote careers in these and associated professions.

Workforce planning is at the heart of building a competent, sustainable and productive workforce for the future – from significant one-off events such as the Rugby World Cup in 2011 to the delivery of the Tourism 2015 Strategy. The immediate challenge for the industries is to consider how their new understanding of cross-sector pathways for job roles, and career development opportunities, can assist in their workforce planning.

The CMP project researched industry-agreed descriptions of job roles for inclusion in the career path information and any future skills development strategies. Distinct career paths were mapped out from year 10 in secondary school to advanced studies at postgraduate level in tertiary education.

A detailed database was created which graphically portrays these career paths. As well as showing linear career progressions, each job role includes a summary outlining its common tasks and responsibilities. A unique factor of the research was the identification of cross-sector career opportunities showing possible movements across the distinct workplaces within the 10 industry sub-sectors. The research indicated approximately 30% cross-over in core competencies across these 10 distinct sub-sectors, especially in generic skill areas such as customer service and safety and health.

A national ‘map’ of tertiary training provisions was created to provide a comprehensive national view of current accredited education and training options across all career paths within the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Building on the research findings and database from the initial CMP phase, the comprehensive web portal www.NZSkillsConnect.co.nz was created to publicise and disseminate the careers information. The website focuses on the ‘visual mapper’, an interactive search tool, designed to allow easy exploration and investigation into the career pathways that cross the aviation, hospitality and tourism industries.

NZSkillsConnect has been specifically created to ensure a wide range of users can connect and access the correct training information and pathways for any career in the industries that interest them.

The portal also has sections for:

• Industry – there is summary information about each of the 10 sub-sectors

• Job seekers – people can create a profile and post their CVs

• Employers – they can post job vacancies

• Providers – can post their profiles and show-case qualifications that have National Certificates embedded within them.

The portal is a powerful tool for attracting, developing and retaining the best skilled people in New Zealand’s dynamic tourism and hospitality industries.

NZSkillsConnect clearly demonstrates that a wide range of exciting long term opportunities exist for people with the right skills and attitudes to build a professional career within the sectors, from entry level to advanced management and governance. Using an agreed, cohesive, multi-stakeholder approach the CMP project has succeeded in its aim of increasing the profile and quality of training and education provision for the aviation, hospitality and tourism sectors, and associated industries.

WEBSITE: www.nzskillsconnect.co.nz