While many employers have slashed staff and apprenticeship positions in tough times Solid Engineering has not forgotten the value of work experience students.
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The Kurri Kurri business has hosted more than 20 high school and vocational education students in the past two years through placement co-ordinator Youth Express.
“There is a downturn in the industry, but we’ve been pretty lucky,” Solid Engineering managing director Trevor Reynolds said.
“I’m a big believer in hosting these kids because I got my start through work experience.”
Maitland-based Youth Express estimates that an active host like Solid Engineering could easily spend $7000 a year in administration hours on safety inductions and vetting candidates.
Youth Express aims to reduce that administrative burden through the Learn to Work program and as part of its charter to partner with business.
“We want to take the load of these employers,” Youth Express independent employment adviser Cree Sweetman said.
Youth Express lost its government funding last year.
Learn to Work instead seeks sponsorship from participating businesses.
But when the program launched last year, businesses were at an economic low and couldn’t necessarily find money in their tight budgets.
“We’ve had to change tact in the last month,” Mrs Sweetman said.
Still, more than 20 businesses have signed up through a reduced-rate introductory offer.
“We’ve got the region’s highest youth unemployment rate here in Maitland,” Mrs Sweetman said.
Youth unemployment (15-24 years) spiked at 16.8 per cent last year outside Newcastle according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“We’ll see an increase in long-term unemployment and people on long term welfare if we don’t address this now,” Mrs Sweetman said.
An 'invaluable' experience
A skills shortage continues to grip the nation but Kurri Kurri business Solid Engineering wants to encourage school students despite the tough times.
Mount View High School students Joel Schreiber and Jacob Garrington tested their skills on the workshop floor this week making mine ventilation equipment.
“Everyone’s really helpful and I’ve learnt a lot,” year 11 student Joel said.
If nothing else, Solid Engineering has reinforced the value of safety.
“They tell us, ‘if you come here with 10 fingers you leave with 10 fingers’.”
Jacob said the experience was invaluable at a daunting time.
“It’s pretty hard with the industry the way it is at the moment and the mines aren’t hiring,” he said.
“Like my grandfather says ‘you can’t just walk into a job like you could 20 years ago’.”