Coates Hire is building its expertise with a new apprentice program in 2019.
Coates Hire is continuing to invest in employee skills as it recruits for its Apprentice Intake Program 2019.
Australia’s largest equipment hire company will recruit between eight and 10 apprentices to be trained in the mechanical trades this year. They will earn a Certificate III – Mobile Plant Technology, after a four-year training and employment period.
Coates Hire Executive General Manager – Fleet & Logistics, Peter Davis, says the apprenticeship placements will be finalised in February and will be based in metropolitan branches in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.
He says the 2019 intake will resolve several challenges for Coates Hire: an industry-wide skills-shortage in mechanical trades, a growing fleet of sophisticated mechanical plant and equipment, and a customer expectation for quality service support as a part of plant hire.
“Coates Hire owns a large variety of plant and equipment, from small hand tools to large plant used on civil projects. The apprentices will be trained on everything from chainsaws to large excavators.
“The demand for rental equipment has increased over the past 12 months and the company needs a growing base of expertise to meet this demand. These are exciting times for us and for our future apprentices,” says Davis.
Programmed Training Services will manage the scheme, and Coates Hire Service Training Manager, Steve Webster, says the program is being conducted with an inclusive agenda so school leavers, indigenous Australians and women understand they are included in the criteria.
“Coates Hire is offering an attractive opportunity for people with a ‘can-do’ attitude, a strong work ethic and willingness to learn. We are targeting anyone who has a commitment to improving themselves with a career goal in mind. We are publicising these positions to people who may have thought that mechanical trades do not include them.”
Peter Davis- Coates Hire Executive General Manager – Fleet & Logistics
He says the apprenticeship scheme is also a chance to develop leadership skills. The apprenticeship intake will be supported by a company-wide program called ‘Coach the Coach’, where senior tradespeople will be trained so they have the skills to mentor the apprentices and prepare them for future leadership roles.
He says the program might expand to electrical trades in 2020.