Business North Harbour’s latest Network Nibbles event took an unexpected and energising turn when it was hosted inside Vanguard Military School, a setting far removed from the usual café or conference room.

“This is a little bit different from your normal business get-together,” Principal Steve Mueller told the room of local business owners, operators, students and community leaders. And he was right.

What followed was part networking event, part leadership demonstration, and part insight into how Vanguard is shaping young people into confident, capable future employees.

A School Built on Direction and Discipline

Mueller spoke candidly about why Vanguard was so keen to host the business community.

The school isn’t trying to “sell” its students, he said, though he noted that employers like Molly from Sweet Disorder would happily vouch for their work ethic. Instead, Vanguard sees industry engagement as a core part of its mission.

“We want to go out to industry. We want to talk to people who are actually doing the jobs. We want to bring these kids in to see what it’s actually like… so they can go, ‘that sparked something in my head, I’d be keen to do that job.”

For many recruits, that spark becomes a pathway. Vanguard already has strong relationships with NZDF and police recruiters, and is now actively building connections with local businesses so students can explore new environments, new industries and new futures.

A First-Hand Demonstration: Military Drill Under Pressure

To show exactly what Vanguard means by discipline, Mueller asked a group of students, soon to be the school’s 2027 student leadership team, to form up in two ranks and perform a static military drill.

The room fell silent as the students moved with precision, responding instantly to commands.

Mueller explained that these young people come from schools all over Auckland, some travelling from Mangawhai or Pukekohe, all choosing Vanguard because they “want a little bit more discipline in their life.”

The drill wasn’t a performance; it was a demonstration of how Vanguard teaches recruits to listen, respond under pressure, and operate as a team.

“If we can get them to listen to a wider command under pressure… I can guarantee you they’ll make a pretty good employee.”

Sweet Disorder: A Local Business Putting Vanguard Students to Work

The event also highlighted one of Vanguard’s newest business relationships, Sweet Disorder, owned by Molly, who shared her story with the room.

Sweet Disorder is known for its humorous gift jars, stocked across New Zealand and Australia. Recently, the company invested in equipment to produce bespoke corporate jars, a move driven both by retailer challenges and customer demand for personalised, memorable gifts.

After relocating from Silverdale due to flooding, Molly attended her first Business North Harbour event and happened to be seated next to the Vanguard team. A conversation turned into a connection, and soon after, Sweet Disorder hired two Vanguard students, Lily and Abbey.

“They’ve come in like ducks to water,” she said. “Please enjoy the lollies on your tables, and employ Vanguard kids.” Molly said.

Her jars on display included custom Vanguard creations like Vanguard Group Gummies and Vanguard Concrete Pills, complete with QR codes linking businesses to Sweet Disorder’s bespoke branding options.

Quick-Fire Speeches: 60 Seconds to Shine

To round out the afternoon, three attendees were randomly selected for a “quick-fire” 60-second speech, a great way to spotlight local people and organisations:

· Ashish Shah, Massey University student

· Katie Christoffersen, Big Little Gift Box

· Shania Sadie, ITLive

Each speaker shared who they were, what they do, and why they’re part of the local business community, reinforcing the purpose of Network Nibbles: connection, visibility and collaboration.