years,” Darren explains. “That’s an average of 50 a year.” Training apprentices at that volume, Darren adds, is a key part of how Hanssen has combated the industry’s ongoing labour shortage: “Hanssen gives everyone an opportunity and our system allows good people to come through. The question I receive the most recently was ‘how are you dealing with the labour shortage?’ Nearing our peak of 700 workers we have had to look outside the square and adapt to market conditions.” “A program which we are still running is giving selected exprisoners an opportunity to work and change their lives,” he adds. “Some of them are now leading hands in their area. We started this in 2018 with a small group. During COVID it really took off but our culture had to be right, our sites had to be drug and alcohol free and the support network had to be in place.” “We also approached a TAFE where Gerry did a presentation and offered engineering students who couldn’t get work an opportunity to work in our factory and design department. Funnily enough, these students couldn’t find work as they lacked experience – something too common in all workplaces.” Currently, Hanssen has close to 100 apprentices across all their sites and yard. Across the board they have a range of ages, from 16 to 85. Their last count of different nationalities was 60, and they also have above average female workers on their sites because they encourage more to join.” Darren admits there is a cost to all the training they do. He says they often hear others in the industry say that cost is prohibitive, that “you can’t afford to train.” Hanssen, however, takes the opposite view – “we say you can’t afford not to train.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA
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