The Opportunities New Zealand Expo
Employers and recruitment specialists were packing up today after their most successful ever UK expo aimed at luring
British migrants to New Zealand.
The Opportunities New Zealand Expo shut its doors in London after three hectic days during which more than 6000
attendees crowded through an Earls Court hotel to talk with employer representatives, recruiters, immigration
consultants, government agencies, banks, realtors and moving companies.
Employers struggling to attract staff amid a New Zealand’s nation- wide skill shortage came away from the expo with
sheaves of CVs from high-quality candidates.
Several were surprised at the level of interest in New Zealand and said they had met people who had travelled from other
European countries to attend the expo.
Synergy International General Manager UK, Connell Graham, said he was taken aback by the number of IT project managers
and technical service managers who visited the company’s stand.
“It surprises me just how many people want to live in New Zealand.We even met people who travelled over from Italy and
Germany just to come to the expo.”
“We had 74 very good quality CV's. We have been very successful. If only 20% of the people we've seen at the expo get
placed into jobs we've done very, very well.”
Telecom Solution Design Engineering Manager Trevor Coles said the company had 200 CV's and 40 top-quality prospects as a
result of the expo.
“We have a senior role to fill and have been looking for someone in this field for six months. This is a role that we
have previously been unable to fill.”
“At the expo we met one person in particular who has all of the skills and experience necessary.
“The UK is one of the few countries in the world we can go to find qualified people. New Zealand has a tremendous value
proposition as the way of life is just so much better in NZ.
“If you are looking to hire people from the UK you need to be face to face when you talk to someone so that you can
determine their skills, details and pre-qualifications in a few minutes rather than by trying to judge from a piece of
paper.
“The expo has been fantastic. We wanted to meet people and understand the UK IT industry and we have done that.”
Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott, said the city aimed to attract 60 people every year and after the expo was on track to
maintain this record.
“We met at least a thousand people on our stand over the weekend, we have given out 500 business cards to people who are
qualified and coming out within the next five months.”
“We have met lots of sensational people who we would say are a brilliant fit for the Hawkes Bay.”
Automotive Employment NZ Managing Director Russell Phillips said the weekend had gone very well for his company.
“We have 120 CV's and have informally made five job offers. More importantly, there are another 25 to make in the next
three months.”
“The total mix of candidates in our industry were present at the expo. Our expectations have been exceeded considerably
and we have had an exhilarating, uplifting and exhausting time.”
Fisher and Paykel Healthcare HR Manager Claire Suckling said her company’s stand attracted six people with the right
skill set and personality who had immediate intentions of moving to New Zealand.
“We were amazed so many people seemed so desperate to move to NZ. We even met people who have flown in from France,
Germany, Russia and Cork to come to the expo.”
Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Technical Director Jon Williams said he met a wide range of potential employees.
“Some were excellent and most were really keen and enthusiastic about moving to New Zealand. We got more candidates out
of this expo than we could have out of anything like this in New Zealand.”
Many exhibitors are staying in the UK as the Opportunities New Zealand Expo moves on to Manchester next weekend (21 and
22 October). The expo is due to be held for the first time in Edinburgh next year.
ENDS