4 new apprentices join Stockton Alliance’s Mobile Plant team

5 March 2012

Four new apprentices join Stockton Alliance’s Mobile Plant team

Stockton Alliance has taken on four heavy plant mechanical apprentices as part of an apprenticeship programme aimed at creating job opportunities for young locals and a talent pipeline for Solid Energy’s export coking coal operations in Buller and the West Coast.

Rowan Hayes, Logan Heath, Aston Itter and Denym Antonievic are all from Buller High School. Stockton Alliance mobile plant manager Grant Wise visited the school to speak to students about the apprenticeships and working in the mining industry.

“I told them there are some fantastic opportunities in mining and you can end up travelling the world. I also told them about what’s expected,” says Grant. “You earn good money, but you work hard for it. It’s also not all about how well you can pull apart an engine and put it back together again – you need to keep up with your reading and writing.”

Nine students were interviewed and Grant says he could have hired any of them. However, Rowan, Logan, Aston and Denym were the stand-out candidates and recently started at Stockton.

According to Denym, the guys are all excited about the opportunity and are really enjoying the experience, though the early starts are a big adjustment. “The shift is from 5.30am to 5.30pm so by the time you get home all you really want to do is eat and go to sleep. But the work is great and I’m learning heaps.”

ENDS

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