Trainees and apprentices will benefit from a Hunter engineering company’s program to boost job opportunities and offer practical experience on a mine site.
Singleton-based Morgan Engineering is helping to upskill and train the next generation of workers by expanding their apprenticeship program.
The company is providing traditional TAFE apprenticeships and has also teamed up with Gimbal Training to offer trainees an exclusive opportunity to gain a Certificate III in Engineering and Mechanical Trade and practical experience on a mine site.
Morgan Engineering General Manager Jeremy Brett said the initiative would help strengthen training pathways for trades assistants and adult apprentices (aged over 21).
“Grow your own timber is a saying that aligns with the vision for our apprentice program. We’re setting the foundations, building our internal talent pool, and ensuring our apprentices are trained to the highest standard and capabilities,” Brett said.
“TAFE will teach them the trade, and we’ll teach them how to be a tradesperson.
“We have two pathways for apprentices: the traditional TAFE apprentice program and our TA/Apprentice program we developed in liaison with Gimbal Training.”
Brett said the current qualifications available to engineering apprentices were not adequate in addressing future skill requirements. The Gimbal Training partnership provided both trade qualifications and specific skills essential to their business.
“Line boring as a stand-alone skill has no TAFE training or qualification. The task instead is completed by a qualified fitting machinist, fitters and turners or CNC machinist who need significant time on the job to gain the required experience,” Brett said.
“Because of this, we engaged Gimbal Training to allow us to create efficiencies and develop a highly skilled pool of liner borers – a specialist qualification that is currently not available.”
The initiative will help trade assistants and apprentices fulfil on-site support requirements while completing their trade training.
“Before the creation of this innovative program with Gimbal Training, we had always welcomed apprentices undertaking their qualifications through TAFE,” Brett said.
“We have a very high success rate for retaining apprentices within the business. Previously, seven apprentices have gone through and stayed with us, five of whom are now in leadership roles.”
For more information about the apprenticeship program, visit the Morgan Engineering website.
Information source: Media release, Morgan Engineering