More than 200 trainees employed since 2020
14 March 2023
GFG Alliance has achieved another employment milestone in South Australia with the introduction of a further 32 apprentices to its Whyalla operations.
Since establishing its Pipeline career development program in 2019, GFG Alliance has employed more than 200 apprentices, graduates, vacation students and trainees across its LIBERTY Primary Steel Whyalla Steelworks and SIMEC Mining Iron Ore operation.
Executive General Manager Human Resources, Mark Wakelin said the Pipeline Program’s influx of new people and fresh skills was complementing GFG’s Whyalla Transformation plans while providing career opportunities in South Australia.
We are not only seeing an influx of fresh faces and new ideas, we are also seeing our future leaders joining the company.
Bianca Standing
“As the business strategically plans for new technologies we must also invest in our people, equipping them with new skills and developing new talent,” Mark said.
“Our fantastic Pipelines Program is introducing that new talent to our businesses and providing the opportunities for them to develop those skills with GFG while playing a key role in an exciting future.”
GFG Alliance started the Pipelines Program with the redevelopment of the Whyalla Mining & Primary Steel (MPS) operations’ apprenticeship program while the graduate and vacation student programs were also revitalised after a ten-year hiatus.
Head of Organisational Development, Bianca Standing said the Pipeline Program had now employed 101 apprentices, 32 vacation students, 60 graduates and 24 trainees in Whyalla since its launch in 2020.
“Our apprentice program is not only focussed on their technical trade skill, but also provides our apprentices with professional development to assist with the transition for many of them from school to working life,” Bianca said.
“Our Graduate Program is providing amazing employment opportunities for university students who have finished their degree or post graduate studies and are now commencing their professional careers, applying their theoretical study into an operational environment.
“The graduate program is a key talent pipeline for our business ensuring we continue to develop the capability we need to support our transformation journey. The Vacation Student Program is giving third-year university students a taste of working life and preparing them for a graduate opportunity on completion of their degree.
“We are not only seeing an influx of fresh faces and new ideas, we are also seeing our future leaders joining the company.”
GFG Alliance has started preparations for the 2023-24 Pipeline Program intake of vacation students, apprentices and graduates with a call for expressions of interest.
Our fantastic Pipelines Program is introducing that new talent to our businesses and providing the opportunities for them to develop those skills with GFG while playing a key role in an exciting future.
Mark Wakelin
To see what career opportunities we have, please go to our careers page.
Main picture: The 2023 apprentices go through their onboarding in Whyalla.
Read more about careers with GFG Alliance
GFG supporting university students
GFG growing its skill base in Whyalla