Waikato Business News July/August 2020

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2020
29
Map of Agriculture
acquires Rezare Systems
Map of Agriculture Group has acquired
Hamilton-based Rezare Systems, a
specialist agri-software development house,
in a deal which completed on 30 June.
Map of Ag is a
UK-based agri data
business with a mission
to connect farmers and
the supply chain through its
proprietary data platform and
associated technologies.
In adding Rezare Systems’
IP and specialist skills, Map
of Ag will broaden its ability
to service a growing array of
clients in the agri-supply chain
and help them benefit from
Rezare’s 16 years of operational
experience.
“We are delighted to be
bringing Rezare into the Map
of Ag family,” said CEO
Richard Vecqueray. “With
its exceptional capabilities in
data solutions in a range of
agri and environmental sectors
we are creating a powerful IT
services unit within the group
which will help us accelerate
our growth.”
The acquisition comes at
a time when Map of Ag is
increasingly supporting its
customers with data-driven
solutions across the agri
sectors for net-zero carbon
commitments, sustainability
metrics, animal welfare, responsible
use of antimicrobials and
farm assurance.
Rezare System group managing
director Andrew Cooke
said the fit is right. “We bring
a set of skills, know-how and
experience where Map of Ag
had a gap, and culturally we
are natural partners owing
to our joint Anglo-NZ heritages.
I’m delighted we will be
part of Map of Ag’s exciting
growth journey.”
Rezare Systems was
formed in 2004 since when it
has been delivering bespoke
solutions for its customers.
These include smart biological
models, web and mobile
development, predictive analytics
and algorithm-driven
solutions, genetics and performance
recording technologies,
and industry leadership in farm
data exchange and standards.
The business has more than 40
staff of whom 30 are developers
and technologists.
The acquisition includes
Rezare’s UK and Australia
subsidiaries. Cooke will join
the Map of Ag board and will
Andrew Cooke
become chief technical officer.
Rezare UK managing director
Julian Gairdner will join the
business as chief commercial
officer.
The Rezare brand will be
retained and it will continue to
service its existing clients and
deliver new bespoke solutions
and business.
The deal grows Map of
Ag’s client base to more than
120, and adds around £2m of
annualised revenues.
Work readiness tool gets boost
A
Smart Waikato-developed
digital work
readiness tool is available
free to schools and youth
services providers throughout
New Zealand thanks to a new
partnership.
Smart Waikato and Auckland
Council-controlled charitable
organisation COMET
Auckland have joined forces
to support youth-to-employment
success by making the
endorseMe work readiness
system available to the 37
schools and youth services
providers nationwide implementing
COMET’s Youth
Employability Programme
(YEP): Licence to Work.
EndorseMe employability
record, based on the New
Zealand employability skills
framework, is a way for young
people to identify, record and
develop skills or capabilities
identified by employers
as essential.
In an EMA survey of 1000
employers in 2015, they rated
‘soft skills’ included on the
framework as among the most
important requirements when
hiring new employees. This
reinforced the findings of a
joint report by COMET and
the Auckland Chamber of
Commerce, Enhancing Youth
Employability, which identified
lack of employability and
work-readiness skills as one
of the main reasons for youth
unemployment.
The endorseMe digital system
includes a smartphone
app for students and an on-line
portal for co-ordinators,
employers and other mentors,
who endorse the young person
for up to 30 work readiness
attributes. These essential
skills include positive attitude,
communication, teamwork,
self-management, willingness
to learn, thinking skills
and resilience.
EndorseMe gives young
people the opportunity to be
endorsed for their employability
skills. Once they have
started to collect endorsements
on the app, they can
print a summary and attach
it to their CV.
Smart Waikato chief executive
Mary Jensen is delighted
the tool will be available to
about 900 more young people
nationwide thanks to
the partnership.
“This is heartening collaboration
between regions at a
time when all young people
are facing greater employment
uncertainty due to Covid-19.”
EndorseMe, available free
in Waikato, is powered by
Career Central – New Zealand’s
leading careers management
platform for youth
organisations. It is part of
the full Career Central subscription
or can be used as a
standalone module.
Young people, employers
or schools and youth organisations
keen to use endorseMe
must be registered with a
co-ordinator or Smart NZ.
For information about
endorseMe®, visit: https://
www.smartwaikato.co.nz/
initiatives/endorsemeemploy/
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