Business Rural North Autumn 2021

52 | FCNZ » Mike Renner In-demand industry viable career path Kelly Deeks FCNZ executive board member Mike Renner says his focus is on getting more fencers certified and attracting new people into the industry. T he new Fencing Contractors New Zealand (FCNZ) executive board consists of members who are each passionate about and working towards change in different aspects of the industry. Executive board member Mike Renner, of Mar- lborough fencing contractor firm Renner Fencing, says his focus areas are getting more fencers certi- fied with their New Zealand Certificate in Fencing Level 3 and Level 4, and attracting new people into the industry. He says most people get into fencing through a family business or from farming. He wants to try to raise the profile of the industry as a career option for school leavers and job-changers. He has met with local schools to notify them of fencing being an industry in demand, and with options for work experience. “It’s not just young people, there are other people out there who have lost jobs due to Covid. We need to get them a bit more educated about the fencing industry.” And there are certainly openings for people new to the industry. Freshwater regulations alone mean there is currently 340km of fencing to be done in New Zealand by 2025, and a big job of 34km of fencing to be done in the Moutere catchment in Nelson. Mike says the Moutere contract will be awarded to three to four separate contractors who will each complete a share of the project. On the training and certification side, FCNZ developed the New Zealand Certificate in Fencing Level 3 in conjunction with NorthTec and Primary ITO in 2018. Since 2018, the certification process has been reviewed to bring the FCNZ Certified Fencers programme into line with what customers would expect from a Certified Builder, for example. Mike says it now needs more tweaking to bring in some additional focus on industrial, residential, and security fencing. The 35-week Level 3 course gives its graduates the skills and knowledge required to be employed as rural fencers, or in a rural enterprise in a role with responsibility for the construction and mainte- nance of electric and nonelectric rural fences. Level 4 arms graduates with the skills and knowledge to run and put up a fence without super- vision, deal with clients, run jobs, have knowledge of health and safety processes and procedures, and manage a fencing crew. Level 5 is for the business owner and includes quoting, invoicing, budgeting, business manage- ment, and management of certified Level 4 staff. FCNZ has its national membership base and an additional certified fencer category. The New Zealand Certificate in Fencing Level 3 and 4 are the requirements to become a certified fencer with FCNZ. Certified fencers have aspects such as their work methods, safety, business processes, and insurances assessed, to be as any client would want when a professional comes on to their property, to cover any potential damages and ensure a professional job. Mike says as more fencers become certified, cli- ents will have the assurance of their fencing project being in good hands. “Just like Certified Builders,” he says. “When you build a house, you only want people who have got their tickets. “Once we’ve got a few more certified people in our trade, clients, councils, and government agen- cies will say ‘we’re not looking at anyone else apart from people who have these tickets’.” The long-standing Renner Fencing is in the hands of the second generation these days with company founder Terry Renner’s sons Brad and Michael. Brad and Michael have been involved in Renner Fencing for more than 25 years, and they run the fencing and administration sides of the business respectively. A true family business, their wives Michelle and Olivia work in the office. After 52 years in business, success for Renner Fencing still comes down to good materials, good workmanship, good staff, and good support. “All of our workers have their own strengths, but we are only as good as our hydraulic team, or mechanical team, or transport providers, who will all work into the night to ensure we can be back on site fencing the next day.”