Westland Milk Products is expanding its career opportunities for young people in 2025.

The company will be extending its Cadetship programme for West Coast school leavers to offer similar opportunities to university graduates from next year.

Westland CEO Richard Wyeth said the company’s graduate and school leaver programmes were designed to help young people stay on the West Coast and attract others to the community.

“We believe very strongly in growing our own at Westland,’’ Mr Wyeth said. “Not only is it good for the community; it’s good for business. Many people who started their careers at Westland have gone on to take on leadership roles at the company.

“By helping us attract young people to the dairy sector, all three programmes help us encourage innovation and continuous improvement at Westland.’’

Westland will also maintain its annual $3000 sponsorship programme for young people starting out at university.

Under Westland’s current Cadetship programme, young people can go straight from school into employment at Westland, gaining experience across a variety of roles for 18 months before being offered a full-time position within one of the company’s manufacturing plants.

The new Graduate programme will be offered to students from commerce, science, engineering, law and food technology. They will be eligible for positions across Westland’s production, supply chain, sales and marketing, research and development, finance, environmental, HR, legal, quality and engineering divisions.

Graduates and cadets will be able to participate in leadership training, technical skills development, and soft skills workshops, mentorship and coaching and career path planning.

 Alongside these direct employment opportunities for school leavers and graduates, Westland’s scholarship programme is awarded each year to two talented local students going on to tertiary education.

They are supported by a $3000 annual grant for up to three years, holiday work from November to February each year and an offer of full employment after graduation, subject to a suitable position being available.

Students can apply for scholarships in the following areas:

• Biological sciences
• Food technology/Biotechnology
• Chemical and Process Engineering
• Applied Sciences (eg Environmental Science)
• Nutrition
• Business Management
• Commerce (particularly Marketing and Accounting)
• Information Technology/Computer Science

For more information about when the next round of scholarships, cadetships and graduate offers will be made in 2025, go to our careers website (www.westlandcareers.co.nz). To make sure you receive notification when applications open, register for alerts. Those who do register will receive an email when we are next seeking applications.