NZ/UK contractor exchange scheme

A brand new partnership to attempt to assist clear up the labour scarcity hole for rural contractors in each NZ and the UK has lately been established.

Realising that Covid and closed borders had severed quite a lot of the worldwide ties, the Rural Contractors New Zealand Inc (RCNZ) and its UK equal – the Nationwide Affiliation of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) – have launched the trade scheme.

“Whereas a few of the greater gamers can kind skilled labour, many contractors are a little bit caught on connecting to the UK labour market,” explains RCNZ chief govt Andrew Olsen. “We imagine that is the place the commerce our bodies will help out.”

NAAC boss Jill Hewitt says the agricultural contracting trade within the UK is having actual issues in sourcing skilled, skilled labour significantly in seasonal peaks.

“The NAAC and RCNZ are working in partnership to help our members in exchanging labour,” she says. “This can be a unbelievable alternative for our staff members to realize expertise, see the world and preserve busy year-round. It additionally takes the strain off our contracting members retaining workers by way of the winter.”

With border entry again to some type of normality since Covid, it ought to be doable for workers to work year-round internationally. The NZ Authorities gives UK residents a vacation working visa for folks aged as much as 35 who haven’t been to NZ earlier than and an employer-sponsored visa choice for expert staff who’ve been earlier than and want to return. The UK additionally welcomes NZ staff, aged 18 to 35 through the Youth Mobility Scheme to realize a working visa for as much as 24 months. As well as, there may be additionally a talented employee choice, sponsored by a UK employer.

Each organisations say with the season in NZ simply across the nook, there are alternatives for UK agricultural staff to get a visa and begin work in October, then return to the UK prepared for the spring marketing campaign – alongside any NZ rural contractors looking for work within the nation.

The method, unique to members of each associations and their staff, is comparatively easy. Firstly, the contractor providing potential positions must be a member of RCNZ or NAAC. UK staff ought to e mail their CV’s to This e mail tackle is being shielded from spambots. You want JavaScript enabled to view it.. These can be circulated to RCNZ members who will make direct contact with staff to debate potential employment.

NZ staff on the lookout for positions within the UK can e mail their CVs to This e mail tackle is being shielded from spambots. You want JavaScript enabled to view it.. These can be forwarded to NAAC members, who could make direct contact with NZ staff to debate potential employment and confirm their credentials.

It ought to be famous that neither the NAAC nor RCNZ can confirm the standing or professionalism of trade staff. This can be right down to particular person staff.