Why Fletcher Building's Switch Up Program won at the Diversity Awards

Youth are a really hard sort of group to be able to bring into businesses, and what Switch-Up has done is said there are no CVs and no experience needed. You come in, you be your whole self.

We run the open days, and what that is for these young people is not a formal interview process - and that’s what’s cool about Switch Up, it’s different. They get to come in and meet us, and then we bring them out into the business and place them in roles.

I think 20 years ago you were told to leave your culture at the door, especially for the Pasifika culture. A lot of times, family and that community feel is so important. If you don’t bring that to your workplace, then people feel like they can’t be themselves, and you’re not getting the best out of them.

Some of these kids are in their mid-twenties and they haven’t really ever had a full-time job, so it’s important to know that that’s okay. It’s okay not to have that, and we still want them anyway. We’re looking at positivity, communication, all those soft skills, and attitude.

For us, attitude and showing up is more important than what you’ve done - and that’s how it’s different.

Find out more about Switch Up Award.