FIRM MAKES MAJOR MOVE

An employment service has taken more than 500sq m of office space in Townsville’s CBD, bringing more people to the city and taking up premises which had been vacant.

QITE, also known as the Mareeba Shire Job Training Association, has leased two floors, including the ground floor, of 77 Denham St.

QITE general manager Jillian Trout said they had operated a small office in the city for about a year providing Harvest Trail employment services but had now expanded on the back of winning a contract with the federal government’s Workplace Australia to provide general employment services in Townsville and Mount Isa.

As a result they had opened offices in Townsville, Mount Isa, Ingham and Ayr and were providing outreach services into Charters Towers.

“We were successful winning the new federal government contract for Workforce Australia which has meant a big expansion for us. It’s really quite exciting for QITE to move into a different location,” Ms Trout said.

Ms Trout said they would employ 20 to 25 people in the Townsville office and looked ahead to a busy time with plans to place some 2500 people in jobs over the next month.

“It’s basically about helping clients land employment with local employers. It’s obviously quite needed at the moment when there’s skill shortages across the board,” she said.

Ms Trout said the city office had suited their needs for office space at relatively short notice after being awarded the Workplace Australia contract in March.

She said the city provided good access and gave them a point of difference from other providers who seemed to be on the outskirts of town.

Colliers Townsville executive, Commercial and Industrial, Shaun Mclaren said it was great to see a new tenant take up extra space in the

CBD, bringing more people to work in the CBD as well as clients looking for work.

“Having extra people in the CBD, that’s what we want. We want more businesses to do the same thing,” Mr Mclaren said.

“If anyone is looking for opportunities for office space, there’s good deals to be had in the CBD.”

QITE is one of the largest providers of employment services in the region with offices in Mareeba (head office), Innisfail, Townsville, Ayr, Mount Isa, Ingham, Bowen and Dimbulah.