Career expo to help find the right fit
GOLD Coast boat builder Riviera has racked up the most forward orders in its 41year history.
COVID-19 has been a blessing for the business, which has more than 600 workers and 1500 suppliers for contractors and parts.
Riviera is one of a host of employers appearing at the 2021 Gold Coast Careers Festival, which began on Thursday and ends on Saturday, at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Apprentices in trades including carpentry and mechanical engineering make up about 15 per cent of Riviera’s workforce and the company has a close relationship with its neighbour TAFE Queensland Coomera Marine.
Safety and training manager Adam Houlahan said
85-90 per cent of Riviera’s apprentices have been studying at TAFE.
“That enduring relationship has allowed us to have some input into what units of competencies are focused on, along with how the training is structured and delivered,” he said.
Riviera has been encouraging more women to sign up by visiting schools.
“You don’t have to be a man or super strong to do this job,” Mr Houlahan said.
“There’s different roles for different types of people with different skills and different abilities.”
Claudia Le Fevre has been working as a first-year upholstery apprentice after signing up following school work experience.
“I didn’t know that I wanted to be an upholsterer, but I’ve always been into design,
so it seemed like a natural fit for me. To be honest, I’d be happy to do any trade here – I love it,” she said.
Fourth-year apprentice Calum McPhee also joined through work experience.
“It’s the supportive culture that makes the difference,” he said. “You feel as much a valued member of the team here as the guys who’ve been here 30 years.”
Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst said the apprentices represented a “really significant contribution to training a skilled workforce”.
“They’re our craftsmen and women of tomorrow,” he said. “We’re always trying to make the next boat better than the last one.
“We’re a bit like a sporting team – always trying to be fitter, stronger and more agile to be better at what we do.
“The future is enormous.”