Employment Partnership between Securecom, EIT- Te Pūkenga and Napier Port provides valuable pathway to keep Information Technology students in Hawke’s Bay | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

 EIT’s ākonga (students) will soon have the opportunity to apply for Securecom’s Graduate Programme, which allows them to gain practical experience with the New Zealand owned and operated managed security service provider, operating in the country for more than 20 years. Securecom currently manages the IT infrastructure of over 250 New Zealand based clients, including  Napier Port, providing students with the opportunity to navigate a series of milestones within the business.

 After completing their Bachelor of Computing Systems (BSC) degree, successful applicants will work at Securecom’s Napier office, with opportunities to work at Napier Port assisting the helpdesk team. Graduates in this programme will also have the potential to secure full-time positions with Securecom at the end of the rotation through the organisation.  

Originally launched in Auckland in 2017 to attract and retain new talent, Securecom is now expanding this successful graduate programme in collaboration with EIT Te Pūkenga and Napier Port.  

During a Securecom internship, new graduates will be paired with a mentor, typically a more senior engineer, who will provide ongoing support and guidance. Mentors play a crucial role in fostering professional development and success, guiding both personal and professional growth.  

This IT graduate programme is focused mainly on infrastructure/support and IT engineering, addressing the real need for skilled young professionals within Hawke’s Bay.  This initiative should be encouraging to any young person looking for career prospects, as they choose secondary school courses to meet tertiary study enrolment requirements.

Rachel Price, Securecom Regional General Manager, emphasizes that the graduate employment programme contributes with the company’s mission to provide excellent, consistent and value-driven services to customers. 

 “We believe our people are key to delivering this excellence. By investing in an inclusive and diverse workforce and offering graduate opportunities for New Zealanders, we are committed to developing the local talent essential for our success,” Price says.  

Richard Earwicker,  Napier Port IT Infrastructure Manager, says Napier Port has a strong focus on partnerships and community, and having EIT BCS graduates on board would be hugely beneficial.  

“We’re excited to help grow and retain talent at the port and in Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Earwicker says. “Napier Port is one of the biggest employers in the region, with over 300 employees in a wide range of careers.”  

 “We prioritise investment in technology to ensure our business operates as safely and efficiently as possible. This includes over 170 security cameras across the port, automated mooring units, state-of-the-art buoy monitoring, such as water temperature, swell and wind monitoring sensors, mobile apps for container inspection, product damage and refrigerated container monitoring , a crane simulator, and more.” 

 “These are some of the exciting things going on at Napier Port that graduates can engage with, and we strongly encourage top students at EIT’s School of Computing to get involved in this graduate programme,” Earwicker says.   

The BCS capstone internship plays a critical role in meeting local demand for IT staff, refining the degree study programme in partnership with industry, and launching graduates into professional IT careers. Securecom are offering the next level in early career professional development for EIT’s high-achievers.