Making a mark with training

Sealed Air (New Zealand) Ltd in Porirua positively hums with employees motivated and committed to the company’s prosperity.

If you ask the company why—you’ll be told that providing continuous training opportunities is the main reason.

Half of the forty permanent printing production staff are currently in a PrintNZ training programme, ranging from a Level 2 Printing (Production Support) programme through to apprenticeship and the Diploma in Print Management.

Company benefits

Printing Supervisor Dave Morley and Training co-ordinator Dennis Burbery have come up with a list of the benefits the company is reaping from its investment in training:

• reduced recruitment costs as employees being developed to their potential tend to stay with the company
• increased productivity through a motivated and loyal workforce
• the manufacture of top quality products that satisfy customer demands through the application of skills at all stages of production
• Sealed Air is not affected by shortages of skilled tradespeople in the labour market.

Up until a couple of years ago Sealed Air focused largely on apprenticeship training.

Increased training opportunities

Since the year 2000, it has taken its commitment to training a step further by offering its printing production support employees the opportunity to gain the Level 2 National Certificate in Printing (Production Support).

“These members of our team deserved recognition just as much as those serving apprenticeships and those on the plastics side of the company who can train towards a similar production support qualification,” says Dennis Burbery.

Ongoing support for employees as they progress through their training programmes is vital.

Well supported trainees

The apprentices and trainees know they can go to the Printing Training Administrator for help with everything from correspondence assignments to preparation for a workplace assessment.

Award winner

In 2001 and 2002, a production support trainee from Sealed Air won the annual PAITC National Certificate Award for excellence in training achievement—a testament to the success of Sealed Air’s approach to training.