Gateway Programme – 2026 Off to a Great Start

By Jacqueline Irving | Posted: Friday March 6, 2026

Our Gateway students have hit the ground running in 2026.

Over the past few weeks, the boys have been busy completing their worksite health and safety requirements and attending interviews with their Gateway employers as they prepare to begin their placements.

The Gateway programme provides students with the valuable opportunity to gain real-world workplace experience while still at school. These placements allow students to build practical skills, develop confidence, and explore potential career pathways within their chosen industries.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the following businesses for their ongoing support and for hosting our Gateway students this year:

ABL Builders
Adams Plumbing
EB Engineering
Scott Technology
Farra Engineering
Cooke Howlison
Terramark Land Surveying
Tansleys Electrical
Aotea Electrical
Otago Electrical Communications
Foleys Plumbing
Steve Mowat Builders
Stevenson and Williams
Foleys Electrical
Rural Livestock

Their willingness to support our students and provide meaningful workplace opportunities is greatly appreciated. The time, guidance, and mentorship they offer plays an important role in helping our students gain insight into the working world and develop skills for their future careers.

We wish to acknowledge the efforts of Kimberly Cross, our Gateway Employer Liaison, in connecting students with host employers for 2026. Kimberly began this role in April 2023 with enthusiasm and a desire to see students find their vocational match. She has been the friendly voice at the end of the phone for employers each day students are on site. Kimberly ensured our students were equipped with PPE and informed about the ever-changing details of their placement sites. She has taken numerous boys to their first meetings to sign Gateway contracts. A highlight for her has been returning to visit students on their placements in subsequent months. Thank you, Kimberly, for being part of Otago Boys’ Gateway.

We welcome aboard Mrs Claudia Bekker, who has just completed her first week as our new Gateway Employer Liaison. In forthcoming newsletters, as placement visits commence, Claudia will profile our students and the wonderful businesses that support the Gateway experience at Otago Boys’ High.

We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow and learn throughout the year and are grateful to our local businesses for making these opportunities possible.