Enthusiasm for Collaborating to Keep Local Jobs Local

HB Trades Together – where did it come from?

HB Trades Together came out of a conversation between MCLStead and the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) some months ago focused on the challenging time construction and trades have experienced over the last few years and how both advocacy and further collaboration could assist with keeping upcoming local jobs local.

HB Trades Together – what is it?

Hawke’s Bay Trades Together Hawke’s Bay Trades Together is an ongoing platform for building relationships, improving communication, exploring ideas, encouraging clients to choose local, and providing a collective voice for the sector.

HB Trades Together – networking event wrap up

The HB Trades Together initial networking event was held on Tuesday 18 November, hosted by MCLStead and the Chamber. The event was for Hawke’s Bay business owners and industry leaders from the construction, civil, and skilled trades sectors to connect, collaborate and strengthen our region’s workforce.

The event was opened by Karla Lee (CEO of the Chamber) who set the scene for HB Trades Together, followed by MCLStead Directors Phil Mitchell & Jeremy Stead who provided an insight into their joint venture and its success with keeping a local job local earlier this year (Napier City Council’s Te Kete Project).

Carl Caccioppoli (Atkin Construction), Tanya Leyland & Wairi Ormsby-Matege (Kahu Scaffolding) and Kieran Woodham (Lattey Group) shared their experiences including some of the recent challenges they have faced.

The attending businesses were then provided with an opportunity to move around the room, inputting their thoughts and ideas on the following:

• What do you want to see from this group going forward

• What are the big issues you’re facing right now

• Where are you already collaborating with others in the industry

• What opportunities do you see for the wider trades and construction community in Hawke’s Bay

• How can Hawke’s Bay Trades Together help create more work and stronger outcomes for the sector

  
  

Thoughts and ideas from the attending businesses included:

• Ways to strengthen connections, share success storied and collaborate on local projects

• Local first initiatives and closer links between trades

• Partnerships, shared labour and client referrals

• And much more….

HB Trades Together – what happens next?

The thoughts and ideas from the HB Trades Together initial networking event will be collated to inform a plan for future sessions. If you would like to be involved in future sessions, watch for upcoming Chamber communications or reach out to their team.

You can subscribe to the Chamber’s newsletter via this link https://www.hbchamber.nz/subscribe.