Bechtel to Hire 400 Apprentices for Australia LNG Projects

Bechtel announced Tuesday it will hire an unprecedented 400 adult apprentices for work on construction of the three LNG plants in Gladstone – Queensland Curtis LNG, GLNG, and Australia Pacific LNG.

This will be one of the largest single intakes of adult apprentices in Australia’s history and the company will work closely with the Federal Government’s National Apprenticeships Program (NAP) to deliver the opportunities.

“This innovative program is a win-win and we are pleased to be part of it. It will help meet the demand for skilled labor and give adult workers with uncompleted apprenticeships, or those working in allied industries without a trade qualification, the chance to complete an apprenticeship in a reduced amount of time,” said Andy Greig, Bechtel’s managing director in Australia.

Under the adult apprenticeship program, experienced workers will have their existing skills recognized. They will be given the opportunity to complete the competencies required without compromise, to get a full trade qualification in just 18 months instead of the traditional four years.

Mr. Greig acknowledged the work done by the Federal Government NAP team under the sponsorship of the Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans.

“We have been working closely with other industries to support Premier Anna Bligh’s jobs push in Queensland, and we have been pleased to get involved with this innovative Commonwealth-driven scheme. For us, the initiative is very closely linked with Premier Bligh’s “Jobs for the Regions” program, and I am pleased to say that recruits will be sourced from all around Queensland as well as other parts of Australia.”

Bechtel has been in Australia for almost 60 years and in Gladstone for more than 30. Existing trainee programs give opportunities at Bechtel construction sites in Gladstone, Central Queensland and Western Australia. Under this National Apprenticeships Program, adult workers with existing skills are being targeted.

NAP Program Director Alan Sparks said recruitment of the adult apprentices for Bechtel would begin immediately through a series of advertisements focusing on seven trades: electrical fitter mechanics, dual trade electrical/instrumentation, metal fabrication boiler maker welders, metal fabrication pipe fitters, mechanical fitters, and carpentry formworkers.

Likely candidates will include:
– People who have partly completed an apprenticeship
– Permanent Australian residents with overseas qualifications not yet recognized in Australia
– Former members of the defense forces with aligned skills
– People with other related trade qualifications and
– Trades assistants from the construction and engineering trades.

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LNG World News Staff, November 16, 2011; Image: Bechtel