The Covid-19 pandemic will pass, and relatively quickly, but life will never be the same, which may not be such a bad thing Michael Liebreich – BloombergNEF For a time the world will be in recovery mode, and then the time will come when life will once again feel normal. Continue →

An idea that sparked a global rethink of the working life and the future of work is told in a new book published this month   New Zealand company Perpetual Guardian sparked global media fascination with its flexible work model after it successfully trialled and implemented the four-day week, resulting in a 20% lift in employee productivity, a 27% reduction in work stress levels, and a 45% increase in employee work-life balance. Continue →

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) quarterly Construction and Infrastructure Surveys continue to show that while construction and infrastructure workloads have increased growth across New Zealand, an acute skill shortage is creating bottlenecks that threaten the viability of the sector New Zealand needs a skilled, sustainable construction workforce to ensure the sector has the people it needs now and into the future, with estimates that the construction industry will need an extra 50,000 workers by 2022. Continue →

A growing number of smaller companies are adopting a four-day workweek. Continue →

Virtual reality technology is being used to boost training and employment opportunities in New Zealand within the construction sector The Ministry of Social Development has partnered with Joy Business Academy (JBA) to develop the Skills for Industry Virtual Reality Training and Employment Tool to improve opportunities for jobseekers and employers in the construction sector, upskilling people any time and anywhere. Continue →

New Zealand is currently under the leadership of a coalition Government with a staunch focus on wellbeing, and business and industry need to understand how this focus changes the way they should assess their bottom line and their general contribution to the domestic economy Treasury’s Living Standards Framework (LSF) encompasses the ‘four capitals’ – natural, human, social, and financial/physical – which affect our wellbeing as a nation and as a citizenry. Continue →

Future business people and construction workers can get a taste of what it’s like to build their own company with the launch of Construction Tycoon, the latest in a series of educational games aimed at growing interest in industries with skills shortages Created by Joy Business Academy, the Tycoon series has the backing of partners including Microsoft, Xero, Ministry of Social Development, Fletcher Building, BDO and Building Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). Continue →

New Zealand metals-based industry organisation HERA is solidifying its reputation as a future-focused thought leader with the launch of its bi-weekly podcast series, Stirring the Pot   The free podcast launched with three episodes on subjects as diverse as the future of manufacturing in New Zealand, innovation as a driver of the global economy and what’s required to build a thriving metals industry. Continue →

The way we do business has been disrupted; we are now connected everywhere and with everyone, says Regus Country Manager Pierre Ferrandon As employees we can now choose where and when we work, because work is no longer something we do or a place we go but is the overall output that an employee and employer produce. Continue →

An increase in flexible working practices within New Zealand will reduce levels of carbon dioxide by 900,000 tonnes per year by 2030 and add between NZ$16.2 billion and $18.1 billion to the economy These are the findings of an independent economic study commissioned by global workplace provider Regus (one of the IWG group of companies). Continue →

The civil construction industry says the Government’s proposed Reform of Vocational Education has potential to fix longstanding issues with vocational training and education, despite needing careful management and more recognition of on-job training Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock said while it was clear the vocational education system required major changes to remove duplication and increase efficiency in delivering job skills, the critical issue would be maintaining interest and engagement from employers and trainees while changes were brought in. Continue →

To address challenges faced by the infrastructure sector and attract a workforce fit for the future, it needs to be seen as a welcoming place that is diverse and inclusive, valuing wellbeing, innovation and career progression, says Stephen Selwood, CEO Infrastructure NZ Given the widely publicised capacity constraints in the infrastructure sector, it is no surprise that a shortage of skills tops the list of the most critical challenges facing the industry. Continue →

In the final quarter of 2018, following the landmark eight-week trial of the four-day week and analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data from it, the Perpetual Guardian board signed off on the four-day week across the business Andrew Barnes views the trial and its successful outcomes as being much bigger than just the future of work at Perpetual Guardian. Continue →

Perimeter security and access control installations specialist HTS Group is expanding its operations in New Zealand to supply world-leading anti-terrorism solutions to protect the public from possible attacks Ranging from simple barrier and boom gates for carparks through to advanced speed gates with integrated controls, HTS Group’s technologies are designed to protect spaces from unauthorised personnel that may intend to cause harm. Continue →

Two Australian projects on either side of the continent have been honoured in Bentley Systems’ prestigious Year in Infrastructure 2018 Awards Northern Engineering & Technology Corporation, MCC won the Mining and Offshore Engineering category for its SINO Iron Ore Mine in Perth, Western Australia. Continue →

In the year to June, the deaths of between 40 and 45 Kiwis are believed to be linked to the use of synthetic cannabis. Continue →

New Zealand’s Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) founder Sarah Lang was winner of the CETANZ Diversity category award at the recent Women of Influence Awards in Auckland “We are delighted that Sarah has been recognised for her outstanding leadership in the sector having established the Women’s Infrastructure Network in late 2016 and led its growth to seven chapters nationwide with over 1000 members today”, says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Selwood. Continue →

Infrastructure New Zealand will lead a senior delegation to China, Hong Kong and Singapore in March 2019 The key topics will be road pricing, new cities development, master planning, integrated urban development at scale and value capture. Continue →

Auckland Council’s Cecilia Tse won the risk management professional of the year award while the council’s risk team won the excellence in developing capability in risk management award at RiskNZ’s annual awards in Auckland Ryan McBrearty of Unison Networks won the other award for best emerging risk practitioner of the year. Continue →