‘Leaders started as apprentices’: Industry heavyweight’s plea for young talent

Fifty apprenticeships are being offered for anybody looking to work on heavy construction equipment. Read why you should apply.

Caterpillar dealer Hastings Deering has launched its annual apprentice search for the company’s northern Australian operations.

More than 50 positions are available working in the big rig distributor’s workshops across nine locations including Darwin and Alice Springs.

Hastings handle Caterpillar products across a range of industries including resources, general construction, civil transport and commercial construction.

Apprenticeship places are open for engine reconditioning, auto electricians, electrical fitter mechanics, boilermakers, diesel fitters and mechanical fitters.

Hastings Deering 2023 apprentice intake

Hastings Deering is also a registered training provider and general manager Peter Rigbye said the company’s focus on recruitment and training was in its own best interests.

“Our vested interest in supporting our apprentices to achieve nationally recognised trade qualifications doesn’t stop with a promising career across a range of industries,” he said.

“Many leaders in our business started as apprentices, which speaks to the value of our program, career path opportunities and the culture which is embedded throughout Hastings Deering.”

Over the past decade, more than 600 apprentices have successfully qualified with Hastings Deering and gone on to become highly sought after by employers because of their broad training base.

“Our apprentices are always in good company, all coming with different skills, genders, backgrounds and experiences, whether they are coming from high school or a mature age apprentice transitioning into a trade,” Mr Rigbye said.

Hastings Deering’s training program combines workplace-based, hands-on training, combined with formal learning at the RTO’s purpose-built training facility, the Hastings Deering Learning Centre.

Power Water’s Djuna Pollard and Alice Springs apprentice Georgena James. PICTURE: North Australia Media

Meanwhile, an Alice Springs-based Power and Water apprentice has been named Group Training NT’s outstanding apprentice of the year.

Georgena James won outstanding Apprentice of the year stage 1 and was also recognised as a finalist for the National Association for Women in Construction for outstanding female in the construction industry.

Georgena is completing a certificate III in electrotechnology electrician with PWC’s power services team in Alice Springs.

Patrick Lucchese, who is completing a certificate III in overhead power systems distribution, was runner-up for outstanding apprentice of the year.