This year Toi EDA, the Eastern BoP Economic Development Agency is adding a new Award to the 2018 Horizon Business Excellence Awards. It’s called the Toi EDA LinkUp Connecting Rangatahi, Education and the World of Work Award. “We’re keen to recognise and celebrate excellent co-operation between schools and all kinds of businesses to create new information, opportunities and experiences for young people to learn about, explore and experience different kinds of work” says Barbara MacLennan, Toi EDA’s Workforce Development Manager.  
 
Cindy Lee, Toi EDA LinkUp Co-ordinator says “We know there’s a wealth of dedicated teachers and business leaders creating good connections for our young people here in our Eastern BoP communities. Some examples of entries we hope to attract include businesses getting involved with schools to give students good workplace experiences and encouragement, or getting involved in secondary/tertiary partnership training, or innovating cadetships or taster courses for school students. Other examples might be industries of businesses working with schools to develop information about the world of work, eg  posters, stories, video clips”. 
 
Cindy and Barbara will be at the Entrant Application Launch evening with the Eastern BoP Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday 6th June to share more about the new Award, and meet interested businesses and schools who are keen to profile their great work.    Toi EDA established LinkUp EBoP last year in response to feedback from local schools and industries that they’d like to be more connected. The goal is for local rangatahi and young people to learn more about the world of work while they’re at school, to better inform their decisions and choices in training and employment, and to help grow our own Eastern BoP workforce.    
 
For further information Cindy Lee, LinkUp EBoP Co-ordinator, Toi EDA cindy@toi-eda.co.nz 0210580565 
 
Barbara MacLennan, Workforce Development Manager, Toi EDA barbara@toi-eda.co.nz 0274252277