• Growth Tank founder David Willey.
    Growth Tank founder David Willey.
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Youth marketing and recruiting experts shared some surprising insights on Gen Z workers at the NextGen Breakfast Forum this morning at AUSPACK 2019.

By 2025, Generation Z will comprise more than a quarter of the Australian workforce, and Growth Tank founder and a youth marketing expert David Willey shared his insights on how to connect with this important group.

Gen Z members prioritise positive workplace and culture higher than financial benefits, and place a higher importance on job security and fair pay than their millennial counterparts.

To make this group happy and productive, WIlley says, companies will need to be seen to be ethical, offer clear and structured career progression, and offer them personal (in addition to professional) development opportunities that help them grow as an individual.

They also value regular feedback, flexibility and work-life balance, he says. “Understanding that your employee’s life is more important than their work is key.” 

Presenter PWC Australia’s Justin Ling said the company uses more digital channels than ever to recruit and engage with its younger recruits.

He also noted that alternative pathways to employment are growing, and he predicted that school leaver recruitment will overtake graduate recruitment within five years.

Food & Drink Business

The latest rounds of funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has included up to $25.3 million for NewVolt to build a shared fast‑charging network for electric trucks in Victoria, and up to $1.77 million for 4 Pines Brewing Co to support the electrification of its Brookvale brewhouse.

The Queensland government has launched its $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund (SSFIF), designed to accelerate agricultural innovation, adoption and productivity across the state’s primary industries.

The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) has appointed Emily White as the organisation’s new executive director, following an extended search for the ideal candidate. She will take over the role from Chris Waters after a two month collaborative transition period.