The Prime Minister John Howard will visit Hunter Holden in Sydney’s North Ryde to meet four automotive apprentices and raise awareness of the importance of skills development, Monday 25 September 10:30am. Group Training Australia and MTA Apprenticeships Plus will host the visit.

The visit highlights the critical elements necessary to encourage skills development, as previously identified by the Prime Minister * - young people who are keen to pursue a trade, employers who understand the benefits of investing in a skilled workforce, and flexibility in the training system as provided by Group Training Organisations (GTOs).

The four enthusiastic apprentices, employed MTA Apprenticeships Plus and placed with host employer Hunter Holden, are undertaking apprenticeships in the areas of mechanical apprenticeships, allowing them to learn the technical skills necessary required in a successful dealership as well as giving these apprentices the foundation for a lifelong career in the automotive industry.

Adam Kaplan, Managing Director of Hunter Holden emphasized the importance of investing in high-calibre apprentices and trainees. “At Hunter Holden, it is our belief that apprenticeships are the only way to secure our future. We place a great deal of importance on vocational training and apprenticeships to ensure we can continue to be a competitive and profitable dealership. Our people are our greatest asset,” Kaplan said.

Geoff Bennett, GM Holden’s NSW State Manager said Holden is proactively involved in tackling this issue head on by working with the Federal and State Government and the NSW Education Department in order to find long term solutions to this problem.

Jim Barron the CEO of Group Training Australia said GTO’s were playing a critical role in achieving workable solutions for the nation’s skills shortage.

“Bringing together talented apprentices with host employers committed to building a skilled workforce is a significant part of the solution. Combining this with the flexibility and high standard of customised training that is offered by a GTO guarantees successful outcomes for all involved.

“For these reasons, The Prime Minister’s visit to Hunter Holden to support the work of these young Group Training apprentices is a welcome and important recognition of what needs to be done to address our nations’ skills shortage,” Jim Barron concluded.


* AFR Skilling Australia 2006 Conference, September18, 2006

ENDS