ESSO Australia and WPC Group Apprenticeship program takes home national award at the Australian Training Awards
WPC Group in partnership with Esso Australia won the prestigious Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award at the 2021 Australian Training Awards for their customised mentored apprenticeship and traineeship program. The once-a-year event recognises excellence and innovation in the vocational education and training, and highlights the incredible achievements, collaborations and stories of many individuals, companies and training providers from across all Australia.
The Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award recognises success of the cutting-edge program which, since its inception in 2018, has hired and trained 42 apprentices and trainees across Esso Australia’s worksites in Gippsland and Hastings, Victoria.
The program enjoys an impressive 100% apprentice retention rate – every apprentice and trainee hired through the program remains on the job with Esso Australia, with many now qualified tradespeople.
The 42 apprentices and trainees are employed across a range of trades: electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, process plant operations, and business. Recruitment activities are underway for the 2022 intake as the program continues to go from strength to strength.
WPC Group General Manager Andrew Sezonov is excited by the win: “To be recognised at the Australian Training Awards is a fantastic honour. We are honoured to win the 2021 Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award in collaboration with Esso Australia.”
“The Esso Australia–WPC Group Mentored Apprenticeship Program is providing skilled employment opportunities to young Victorians whilst helping to develop the skilled workforce of the Gippsland and Hastings regions.
“To build a new apprentice and trainee training program from scratch and to then achieve a 100% retention rate after three years is remarkable – it’s a great result for our apprentices, trainees and the broader community.”
WPC Group CEO Nicholas Wyman was equally excited: “In all my time in the group training sector I have never seen a program be so successful so quickly. I would like to thank everyone involved – from WPC Group, Esso Australia and our training, community and employer partners – in making this program as successful as it is.”
WPC Group is the first organisation to receive this award multiple times, after winning this category in 2016 for its Nissan Australia NISSMAP collaboration.
Exxon Mobil & WPC Group - 2021 Australian Training Awards Winner
WPC Group CEO Nicholas Wyman was equally excited: “In all my time in the group training sector I have never seen a program be so successful so quickly. I would like to thank everyone involved – from WPC Group, Esso Australia and our training, community and employer partners – in making this program as successful as it is.”
WPC Group is the first organisation to receive this award multiple times, after winning this category in 2016 for its Nissan Australia NISSMAP collaboration.
“To receive this award for the second time in five years is very gratifying. I’m very proud to lead a dedicated and capable team which can successfully solve skills development and training challenges across multiple sectors and environments,” said Wyman.
“This award affirms the vital role WPC Group, and the group training model, can play in helping individuals build rewarding careers and helping organisations create brighter futures.”
WPC Group believes this program offers a template for employers – large and small – seeking to find a solution to the enduring problems of skills shortages and apprentice and trainee retention.
“This award is a testament to what can be achieved when employers take a long-term view to training and talent development”
Now is the time of year for employers and school-leavers to take a closer look at the career potential of the proven apprenticeship and traineeship model. Apprenticeships and traineeships are available in more than 300 occupations, and 7 of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in Australia are accessible via apprenticeship or traineeship pathways.
WPC Group and Esso Australia are incredibly honored to win this award and proud of all the work their entire teams have given and achieved in creating an industry leading program.
This win marks Esso Australia’s first victory at the Awards and is the second for WPC Group, who took out the category in 2016 in collaboration with Nissan Australia for their NISSMAP program.
