Riviera to add 30 tradies
LUXURY yacht builder Riviera is ramping up its recruitment this year, preparing to add 30 additional workers to its team from a new employment program.
In a first for the marine industry, the collaboration uses the combined resources of the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) and the federal government’s Department of Education, Skills and
Employment to help trainees fast-track their careers in boatbuilding.
More than 200 potential employees have expressed interest in the program.
The latest recruitment drive coincides with Riviera’s expansion program to meet the largest forward orders for luxury motor yachts in the company’s 41-year history.
Riviera’s safety and training manager Adam Houlahan said the initiative was an “important step” in filling its vacancies with the “best possible talent”.
“Through this collaboration we have been able to secure a shortlist of quality people with varied work experience, some of them mature-aged who can be trained in the skillsets that we require,” he said.
The Coomera company’s plans to immediately employ 30 new trade assistants from the program with these new craftspeople participating in a newly created practical training course at TAFE Queensland, which is administered by DESBT.
Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst said its commitment to training played a key role in its ability to deliver motor yachts “admired globally”.
“We are proud of our ongoing collaboration with
DESBT and, in conjunction with our on-site training initiatives, Riviera is not only enhancing the skills excellence of our team, we are also creating the master craftspeople of the future for our industry,” Mr Longhurst said.
Riviera is about to start on the next stage of a $10m expansion of the company’s Gold Coast boat-building facility. This follows a record 41 new apprentices joining Riviera’s award-winning training program.
RIVIERA IS NOT ONLY ENHANCING THE SKILLS EXCELLENCE OF OUR TEAM, WE ARE ALSO CREATING THE MASTER CRAFTSPEOPLE OF THE FUTURE.
RODNEY LONGHURST