ConneXu Partners Graduate with new qualification

Four ConneXu Partners were celebrated for their amazing academic achievements at a special graduation ceremony held in Hamilton last week.

Darcy Jones, Kaa Dekker, Jack Forsyth and Bevan Taylor were presented with their Certificate of Achievement in the Introduction to Yard Work in the Heights Access Industry, presented by workplace health and safety training provider Vertical Horizonz.

The four young men have been working in the Heights Access Industry for around three years, and working towards the ‘made for purpose’ qualification developed in partnership between Vertical Horizonz and industry employers.

Darcy, Jack and Bevan are employed by Industrial Site Services (ISS), a company specialising in Scaffolding, Rigging, Rope Access, Engineering and Renewable Energies. Kaa is employed by All Quip Hire and Sales, based out of the same yard as ISS in Hamilton.

All are supported by ConneXu and Community Facilitator Ronnie Adams also undertook special training with Vertical Horizonz in the Heights Access Industry, so that he could support the men in their work and provide quality control.

ISS owner and Communications Manager Nicky Forsyth was instrumental in getting the micro-credential qualification off the ground. She says the men have been instrumental in the ISS business.

“The job these young men do is not to be taken lightly. We can’t actually function as a scaffolding business without the jobs they do. From servicing our fittings and helping to keep our yard tidy, they play a really important role in our business. This is huge,” she says.

“As far as I am aware, no other young people with disabilities have been put through these papers before. No training organisation has taken the time to figure out a way to make this work for people who learn differently. I have huge aroha for Vertical Horizonz for enabling this to happen, and to ConneXu for enabling Ronnie to be involved.”

“These men are going further. They’re doing such a good job, and we are all really, really proud of them!”

Nicky’s husband and ISS Director Bruce Forsyth says the impacts on the wider business have also been beneficial.

“The sense of pride that we’ve had as an employer, I can’t really put into words. These four men have worked alongside each other at the same pace. The programme is just the start of their journey. They’ve proven to themselves that learning in a work environment is achievable,” says Bruce.

“One of the things that gets overlooked is the uplifting sense of joy that these four young men bring to our workforce, that no one else does. They are always smiling and always having a laugh.”

Darcy says working at ISS and achieving his qualification has “been really cool.”

“I have made heaps of friends. When I first started, I was introducing myself to all the workers, and now I have heaps of friends at work,” says Darcy.

Bevan adds that he has enjoyed the work.

“We’ve been working hard down there, painting the different clips and helping out in the yard. It’s really good.” says Bevan.

Community Facilitator Ronny says it’s been a positive experience for the men.

“It’s been so good watching them learn and figure out how to do their jobs. When we go to work it is like a cool outing where they can focus on tasks. It’s been cool to see them grow in that space.”