GRIP NZ

Red Shirts in Schools, with GRIP leading the support

GRIP and The Warehouse are excited to be working together to offer students a fully supported retail Gateway pathway from Term 3 onwards.

It is great to be working in partnership again with The Warehouse Group, and we are looking forward to the positive outcomes this will create for schools, stores, and rangatahi across Aotearoa.

With GRIP leading the support, students will be prepared, guided, and supported throughout their workplace learning journey — from registration and readiness through to assessment, pastoral care, and follow-up.
Schools can access:

Level 2 Red Shirts in Schools
For students building confidence, workplace expectations, and customer-facing retail skills.

Level 3 RISE | Retail Industry Skills Experience
For senior students ready to strengthen their employment readiness, communication, teamwork, and future pathway options.

Registrations for Term 3 are now open. Schools are encouraged to connect with their GRIP Regional Pathways Advisor to discuss local store availability and best-fit options for students.

A big mihi to Jacob Bowman-Colligan and The Warehouse team — we are excited to be working together again and look forward to the successes this partnership will bring.

Volunteer Week: Service in Action

Volunteer Week continues, with more of the GRIP team spending time alongside organisations that make a difference in their communities.

Executive Officer - Doug Pouwhare spent the day volunteering at Arohanui Hospice Shop in Palmerston North, taking morning tea for volunteers Kaye, Marie Anne and Judy before rolling up his sleeves to help sort donations and support the team. With around 14 volunteers needed each day to keep the store running, the scale of community support behind the operation was eye-opening.

Hospice holds a special place in the story of Partnering with Purpose. It was through our early work with Hospice that the programme first began to take shape, creating opportunities for young people to gain experience while making a meaningful contribution to their communities.

Meanwhile, Joseph Clarke has been out and about again, giving his time to the team at Red Cross Hornby.
Joseph said:
"It was amazing volunteering today at Red Cross Hornby, supporting Gemma and her team and getting stuck into the mahi. I loved learning about all the wonderful tasks our ākonga get to experience while on placement. It's such a rewarding experience being able to give back to the amazing employers who support our GRIP students."

Like many of our Partnering with Purpose ākonga, our team have chosen to spend their time with organisations that reflect what matters most to them. Whether it's supporting community services, helping others, or investing in future opportunities, it's been a privilege to spend the week alongside some of the incredible organisations we work with throughout the year.

A huge thank you to Hospice NZ, New Zealand Red Cross, and all of the organisations that have welcomed our team during Volunteer Week. The work you do strengthens communities, supports important causes, and creates opportunities for our ākonga and volunteers alike to make a difference.

Volunteer Week: Values in Action

Volunteer Week continues, with Carolyn Vincent spending the day volunteering at the The SPCA Op Shop in Mount Maunganui.

A passionate animal lover, Carolyn chose to support an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of animals while helping fund the important work of the SPCA.

While the causes our team have chosen to support this week are all different, there's a common thread. Like many of our Partnering with Purpose ākonga, they've chosen opportunities that reflect what matters most to them.
Kelly Randle, Managing Director at GRIP, says that's been one of the highlights of Volunteer Week.

"What I've loved most so far about Volunteer Week is seeing the same values that attract our ākonga to Partnering with Purpose reflected in our team. They care about their communities, they care about people, and they're always willing to give their time to causes they believe in. I think that's pretty special."

A huge thank you to the SPCA New Zealand and all of the organisations that have welcomed our team during Volunteer Week. The work you do strengthens communities, supports important causes, and creates opportunities for our ākonga and volunteers alike to make a difference.

Volunteer Week: Investing in Future Talent

The future of hospitality was on display at Ara Institute of Canterbury this week, with 23 aspiring chefs competing in the Trainee Chef of the Year event as part of the Waitaha Canterbury Young Chef Championships.

GRIP National Culinary Lead, Joseph Clarke, was invited to return as a tasting judge for the second year of the competition, joining industry professionals in assessing the next generation of hospitality talent.

Competitors faced a demanding challenge, completing a range of classical kitchen preparations before creating two plated portions of pan-seared Akaroa salmon with parmentier potatoes, beurre noisette, capers, raisins, and pine nuts– all under strict time constraints.

“What impressed me most was the composure of the competitors under pressure. These are young chefs, many of them students, working against the clock in a professional competition environment, and a number of them produced really clean, well seasoned plates. The passion was obvious. Well done to the competitors stepping above their peers; putting themselves out there was very commendable,” said Joe.

With 23 competitors across three heats and classes filling well before the closing date, the event continues to grow and highlights the enthusiasm young people have for careers in hospitality.

"It was genuinely inspiring to watch rangatahi take pride in their craft and push themselves. That's what days like this are all about."

A huge thank you to Mark Sycamore and the team at Ara for delivering such a well-run event and creating opportunities for young chefs to showcase their skills, build confidence, and connect with industry.

The event also provided a chance for Joseph to reconnect with former colleague Reon Hobson, Corporate Chef at Rational New Zealand, and discuss the future of hospitality and opportunities for young people entering the industry.

Volunteer Week: Giving Back Through Community Partnerships

As Volunteer Week continues, we're spending time alongside some of the incredible community organisations that support our Partnering with Purpose programme.

Kirsty Mower volunteered with the team at Albany Harbour Hospice Shops North Shore, one of the many organisations that provides meaningful placement opportunities for our Gateway ākonga.

"I chose to volunteer at Harbour Hospice Albany because of the support they have provided to our students during their placements. It was a great opportunity to contribute to an organisation that makes a positive impact in the community."

The relationship between our community partners and our ākonga is something we value deeply. These organisations provide supportive environments where young people can gain workplace experience, build confidence, and discover the difference they can make in their communities.

Kelly Randle, Managing Director at GRIP, says that's one of the things that makes the programme special.

"I love that Partnering with Purpose attracts the kind of young people who genuinely want to give back and be part of their communities. The skills, experience, and personal growth they gain along the way are an added bonus."

Last year, more than 70 ākonga completed placements with a small group of community partners. This year, we've already supported more than 80 ākonga and are thrilled to be working alongside even more incredible organisations across the motu.

A huge thank you to Harbour Hospice and all of our Partnering with Purpose partners. The opportunities you create help our ākonga develop valuable workplace skills while making a positive contribution to their communities.

We've been busy right across Aotearoa!

Over the past few weeks, our rangatahi have been gaining valuable workplace experience in communities across the motu, from Auckland to Christchurch, and it's been fantastic to see them thriving in a wide range of industries and workplaces.

From retail and hospitality to tourism and conservation, our learners have recently started placements with:
Tōtara Hospice Retail Store, Pakuranga
SPCA Beachlands
Woolworths Whakatāne
New World Kawerau
Mitre 10 Mega Petone
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch
Woolworths eStore Penrose

And we're especially excited to share that we've welcomed our very first learners into Chemist Warehouse New Zealand placements! 🎉

These placements provide learners with the opportunity to build confidence, develop workplace skills, make industry connections, and explore future career options in real-world environments.

A huge thank you to all of our employer partners who continue to open their doors and provide meaningful opportunities for young people to explore careers, build confidence, and develop workplace skills.

We're looking forward to seeing what these learners achieve over the coming months.

A few snapshots of our learners getting started across the motu... Kelston Girls' College, Selwyn College, Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery, Upper Hutt College, Trident High School News, Howick College, Naenae College, Rangitīkei College

Volunteer Week: Supporting the Organisations That Support Others

Volunteer Week is underway, and this week our team is spending time volunteering alongside some of the incredible community organisations we work alongside in our Partnering with Purpose programme.

These are the same organisations that provide valuable placement opportunities for our Gateway ākonga throughout the year. Every day, they create supportive environments where young people can build confidence, gain workplace experience, and develop skills for the future.

This week is our opportunity to give a little back.

Today, Kirstie Downs spent the day at Dove Hospice - Glenn Innes store in Auckland.
"I chose to volunteer at Dove because I wanted to give back to my community and support the incredible work they do for people and families in need. The volunteers there were lovely – one lady has been volunteering for 26 years!"

In Christchurch, Jasmin Vincent and Eilis Mowat-Gainsford joined the team at Red Cross Papanui.

"I chose Red Cross Papanui because we've had a lot of students complete placements through this store. Lee Anne and the team have always been supportive of our students and their various needs." – Jasmin

For Eilis, the day was an opportunity to give back while gaining a deeper understanding of what many of our students experience during their placements.

A huge thank you to the teams at Dove Hospice & Wellness, New Zealand Red Cross, and all of our Partnering with Purpose organisations. The impact you have on our communities and our ākonga is significant, and we're proud to spend this week alongside you.

Get to know some of our GRIP team: the cool version