TUFF Australia seeking skilled employees as business expands during Covid

While a Toowoomba-based manufacturing business has benefited during Covid, increased demand has seen the business cry out for skilled workers.

Apprentice boilermaker James Griffiths scored a job at TUFF Australia, just one of 14 that are being trained by the Toowoomba-based manufacturing firm. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A manufacturing business based in Toowoomba has managed to not just survive but thrive during Covid, but a shortage of skilled workers has put them in a tough situation.

After starting nearly 20 years ago with just five employees, TUFF Australia has expanded to 100 employees and an growing facility in Torrington.

Specialising in manufacturing automotive accessories, TUFF Australia CEO Anton Griffiths said the family business had come a long way.

“When my father, Phil bought the business after we migrated from Zimbabwe, I was on the tools fitting bullbars and had to learn from the ground up,” he said.

“We now have 100 employees across TUFF Australia where we manufacture automotive accessories and TUFF Coatings which provides powder coating and painting services.

“Over time there has been investment in plant and equipment and we have moved to advanced welding equipment that allows our team to build a better product.”

TUFF Australia CEO Anton Griffiths has benefited from an increase in demand for Australian-made products during Covid.

Mr Griffiths said increased demand for their product has meant the business is now in desperate need of skilled workers.

“It has been more difficult to find staff over the period and we still have high demand for sheet metal fabricators, boilermakers and general hands,” he said.

“There is definitely a move to Australian made products rather than imports which came about during the Covid period.

“We have boosted our apprentice numbers to 14 as we cannot complain about a lack of staff if we are not prepared to train the next generation.”

One of those apprentices is 33-year-old James Griffiths, who will be finishing his apprenticeship as a boilermaker in October after first starting his trade in Inverell in 2005.

“I was there building silos but due to the drought it all fell through,” he said.

After spending years trying to find somewhere to resume his apprenticeship, moving to Pittsworth and Oakey before he was able to land a position at TUFF Australia in October last year.

“There’s always work for skilled tradespeople and I think it’s something that we need a lot more of, people taking up a trade,” he said.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport said the skills shortage was being felt by most manufacturers across the region.

“Businesses are crying out for qualified workers at the moment, and it’s crucial we support our local manufacturing sector to help them remain globally competitive,” Ms Davenport said.

“It’s important we look at attracting the right employees from outside our region by promoting the liveability of Toowoomba, while also looking at the next generation of workers.

“TUFF Australia is a fantastic success story, and the whole team should be commended on their unwavering dedication and commitment to local manufacturing over the past nearly 20 years.”

Mr Griffiths said he was planning for what the next 20 years might look like.

“We look to the long term with our people; some who started cutting material and sweeping the factory are now supervisors and managers,” he said.

“At the end of the day we cannot go to the next level without good people and quality leaders.”

Originally published as TUFF Australia seeking skilled employees as business expands during Covid