This article was first published in the Wanganui Chronicle, written by Sue Dudman.

"We want to evolve to provide permanent placement and commercial office-based recruitment," team leader Adrian Larkin, who manages the Whanganui and Palmerston North offices, said.

"We've been known for placements in civil construction, manufacturing and logistics. We also now work with employers on permanent placements and we also have a pool of commercial candidates."

As part of the AWF Madison Group, with sister companies Madison and Absolute IT, and with 23 AWF branches around New Zealand, the Whanganui office has access to a large database of job seekers.

Whanganui team members, recruitment consultant Kent Wilkins and candidate consultant Craig McClelland, place staff in roles throughout the region, from Taumarunui to Bulls.

Wilkins said the biggest demands were for manufacturing and civil construction staff but they also successfully placed administrative staff.

"Some people really like the lifestyle of being a temporary employee and the flexibility it provides them," Larkin said.

"Temporary placements can be anything from a one-off, one-day assignment to cover for longer term needs or for a client who needs a fully flexible workforce.

"This can provide our temporary staff with variety and an opportunity to learn valuable new skills."

Upskilling staff was a focus for AWF, Larkin said.

"They can start out in an entry level position and by the end of the year their knowledge of a particular industry may have grown significantly.

"Our temporary staff may start as a labourer and through their journey with us become trained to be a traffic controller and then, as an example, develop further into a more specialised roller operator. We can help with development plans. We're here for the long term to support businesses and the community."

AWF was demonstrating its support by sponsoring the trade services and supplies category of the 2018 Whanganui Regional Business Awards, Larkin said.