Category Archives: Media Coverage

Featured in Stuff "Big" Robbie Smith hopes the young boys he is currently training will be business owners one day. Smith is part of the "Dad's Army", a group of experienced and retired tradesmen tackling the under-representation of Māori and Pasifika in the skilled trades. "Young fellas, I know from my own experience, all I…

Featured in the Western Leader. Bryan Swainson, 72, has no desire to put his feet up in retirement. The Auckland man has been in the painting trade for 50 years, but decided to semi-retire in 2000. Those plans didn't last long and now he worked up to five days a week, tutoring younger tradies. Swainson…

Featured in the Tauranga RSA Newsletter. A “Dad’s Army” of retired but still active tradesmen is part of a highly successful Kiwi Can Do programme that helps train and get beneficiaries work-ready for jobs in construction and now the company behind the initiative is looking for more “old school” tradies to join the team in…