Apprenticeship program to address skill shortages

BOC is rolling out an Apprentice Development Program across Australia and New Zealand to help the company meet future skill needs.

The official rollout of the instrumentation, electrical and mechanical fitting program follows a series of successful pilots that were done in NSW and Victoria.

Directly linked to workforce planning requirements, the program includes structured rotations that enable the apprentices to develop a wide range of specialist skills. This includes skills in key areas where industry-wide shortages are beginning to occur.

"The program is a key way in which we are addressing increasing skill shortages in the engineering trade and provides a great opportunity for knowledge sharing across the business," BOC HR director, Graeme Bartram said.

"We have a highly experienced but ageing workforce in our CES and Maintenance Service teams "“ one of our main trade-related, customer-facing business units. As these employees retire it is important that we retain their know-how through initiatives like the apprenticeship program."

The program is sponsored by senior members of the BOC leadership team who have a direct responsibility looking for suitable entry-level positions for qualified apprentices on completion of their training.

Further training is provided by TAFE. "The program is a first career step. We hope that some of these people will continue to develop their careers, with further study and experience, into engineering and management roles," Bartram said.

All apprentices who completed the program at pilot stage so far have taken up full-time roles in the company.