Gateway - Companies
INFORMATION FOR COMPANIES
About Gateway
Gateway offers structured workplace learning opportunities to senior students. The Gateway programme is about students completing a work placement and having their learning in the workplace assessed against unit standards on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and integrated with their current programme of study. It is not a work experience programme or a programme for under-achievers.
Gateway is an initiative designed to strengthen the pathway for students from school to workplace learning. Hon Steve Maharey, Minister of Tertiary Education has announced an expansion programme saying “Gateway offers students new learning choices and new opportunities to begin nationally recognised qualifications. For example students looking to “go into” the joinery industry will be able to start a career pathway while they are still at school.
Workplace learning is a formalized learning arrangement set in an actual workplace with clear understandings about the knowledge and skills to be attained and the assessment of unit standards. It differs from work experience which tends to be designed to give students a taste of different occupations, to help them in career planning.
Gateway builds on existing partnerships to develop new relationships between schools and Industry Training Organisation (ITO) and employers. This approach dovetails with the Governments developments of the Modern Apprenticeships initiative.

Great Benefits to Companies
Employers will benefit through improved public relations with their local school and will contribute to local needs. In the longer term, they will have the opportunity for more efficient and effective recruitment which will contribute to increased productivity and an enhanced company skill base.
This programme has the potential to provide students with interesting and challenging opportunities leading to future employment or apprenticeships. For the company there is the opportunity to teach industry specific skills to the student. What a window of opportunity to gauge the attitude, potential and enhancements this young person could make to your company!
Students will benefit by applying general skills in a workplace context, while gaining industry skills and in many cases, getting a head start towards the joinery qualification.

Selecting Students for Gateway
Gateway criteria for placement in a company are:
Currently studying at years 11-13 (Forms 5-7).
New Zealand residents only.
Students who are work-ready and interested in the joinery or timber related industry.
Fit criteria as set by the company e.g. has a positive attitude to both work and training, has the intellectual and physical ability to achieve.

Workplace criteria for student placement are as follows:
The work environment is stable.
The mentor/company is positive and supportive.
The mentor/company is keen to be involved. 		ACC and Company Responsibilities
All students injured in the workplace are covered by ACC and should advise the Doctor that any injury sustained is NOT a work accident.
The implications are as follows:
(a) Students in workplace learning placements are not employees, unless the arrangement for workplace learning involves the students receiving payment or reimbursement for board and lodging.
(b) Where students are not getting paid or being provided with board, they are covered by ACC in the same way as students at school. If an accident occurs and the student seeks medical treatment – injuries are not classed as a “work injury” as this only applies to people in paid employment.

What Skills Does the Company Need to Teach?
Learning in the workplace will be with support and guidance from the workplace mentor. The student will work on unit standards which are a combination of practical and theoretical assignments and will be set a small practical project. The workplace mentor will verify the practical work of the unit standard. The unit standard will then be posted for assessment.
Each student will have a skill learning plan.
The first unit standard that each student will complete is US 2543 Carry Out Safe Working Practices in the Workplace. This Unit Standard relates to a joinery workplace. It teaches Health and Safety knowledge that is applicable and unique to each company. Other unit standards that the student will be working on will be:
2550 - Use Hand Tools
2556 - Select Timber

Students enjoy learning new practical skills. To create a positive learning experience for the student, set a project and teach the required skills. This may be their first step towards a rewarding career in the joinery industry. The skills you teach will be enhanced by completion of unit standards 2550, 2556 and 2543.

How To Register as a Gateway Company
You are able to register with JITO to be a Gateway supporting company. Once you have registered your company will be listed on the JITO website.
Click here to download a copy of the registration form. It will only take 2-3 minutes. You can either email, post or fax it to JITO.

How do I find a Student?
Once registered, your company will be listed on the JITO website. This is the reference for the school Gateway Coordinator to make contact with the company, when a student is interested in the joinery industry.
Alternatively you may wish to locate a Gateway school also listed on the website to contact the coordinator.
Click here to find a Gateway school in your area.
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