Jobs: the sort of businesses that should be attracted

Vadacom's hardware and software

Following my post yesterday on Upper Hutt's economic development challenges, a reader asked what sort of businesses I would like to see attracted to set up in Upper Hutt. In my view there is some scope for a return to manufacturing - after all, recent stats show manufacturing again expanded across the country - even when you exclude the current economic darlings of milk and meat.

One example that popped into my inbox today was Vadacom, a local manufacturer of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) PBX (Private Branch eXchange) systems. Basically, they make local phone switches that connect to the interweb, and the associated software. Vadacom's system have got a boost from Xero's IT Manager. Xero are using Vadacom globally as part of their ongoing expansion.

This is the sort of business that needs to be encouraged to set up shop in Upper Hutt. Vadacom is not only a successful exporting business, it's also an employer. And the sort of jobs they've created are exactly the sort Upper Hutt is after - high-paying and based on a solid technical background.