An update to this story: Riviera has won the Queensland State award for Large Employer of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards, held on the 7th September! Congratulations Riviera and we wish you all the best for the upcoming national awards.
Gold Coast based business, Riviera – Australia’s premium luxury yacht builders, has won the South East regional Queensland Training Award for Large Employer of the Year for the second year in a row and is a strong contender to take out the State Awards held in September. The country’s largest luxury motor yacht builder employs over 950 craftspeople including 150 apprentices at their site in Coomera and offers ten specialised apprenticeships via its Riviera Academy of Excellence. The organisation has a reputation for quality training and boasts a 90% employee retention rate.
When BUSY At Work asked Keira Badke, Apprentice and Trainee Manager at Riviera, what set the organisation apart and why they received this award two years running, Keira responded, “Well, firstly, we don’t just look at apprentices as a number. We see them as opportunities for growth and support and mentor them to become the best version of themselves. We’re teaching them about different things that may come up in their career, their job or personal life; like conflict resolution, business proposals, dealing with banks and how to purchase your first home, managing credit cards and understanding shares. Everything to make sure we’re giving them a better boost in life to help them become great Australians!”
Riviera offer opportunities to many young people looking to enter the boating industry, from qualifications in Marine Boat Construction to Upholstery. Since January 2024, Riviera has signed up approximately 65 new apprentices, mostly full-time but some of these part-time school-based apprentices. As well, since the start of the year, ten apprentices (both young and mature-aged) have completed their trade qualification and are now fully qualified and working for Riviera, often mentoring or becoming role models for the new and upcoming apprentices. Another six will have completed their trade certificate by the end of this year and will continue working for Riviera.
Like many Australian industries, particularly the trades industries, the boating industry is experiencing skills shortages, so it makes sense for organisations like Riviera to invest in the next generation of skilled employees.
“Right now, we still can’t employ enough qualified trades people to fill the roles we have. That’s why we really need to bolster and make sure our apprenticeship program is continually employing apprentices because we need them to complete their qualification to fill those positions. Not only the positions we need now but in our organisation, there are those getting ready to retire or change their career path after being in the industry for so long. We need to make sure our apprenticeship program is strong and has the apprentices in there as a contingency plan and bolstering the trades positions we have available now.
“I believe all industries need to invest in apprentices. Why would you not employ a young person who is keen and eager to learn and teach them the standard that you need of them? We have a great culture here at Riviera and Rodney Longhurst, the owner of our company started as an apprentice many years ago, whereas our CEO did a Shipwright apprenticeship all those years ago, so it really does start from the top! They know what we need and they are the biggest backers of our apprenticeship program.
“Our young people today are going to eventually be stepping up into our current managers roles as they get ready to retire or move on.”
With opportunities to learn and climb the ranks at Riviera, the organisation is leading the way when it comes to compelling career opportunities for those with the right attitude and interest in the boating industry.
Diversity and inclusion are key to Riviera’s success who are not shy in hiring anyone with the right attitude.
Keira stated, “Every application that comes through, I will interview. If they’ve got the right attitude, we can teach them the skills. Whether they are male or female or have a learning difficulty, we’re able to work with them. We have a wide range of diverse employees across site, including international students. This year too, in the whole seven and a half years I’ve been in my role, has been the largest intake of female apprentices. I’m chuffed about that! I don’t know whether it’s because I’m a female in a male dominated industry so when I visit schools the girls think ‘hang on if she can do it, I can do it too!”
When it comes to mentorship and training for their apprentices, Riviera are certainly excelling. Their Academy of Excellence includes their training organisation, Major Training, delivering ninety per cent of the training for apprentices on site and in the workplace, ensuring the apprentices are learning relevant skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace. As well as Keira being a sounding board for apprentices who may be experiencing life issues or obstacles, mentors are plentiful for new apprentices, with qualified tradespeople always surrounding them and on hand with helpful advice.
“Apprentices need to learn on site, rather than a simulation in a classroom away from the workplace. We’ve negotiated with Major Training who have brought on-site trainers who are now also learning by training on site for the marine industry. In fact, they are upskilling themselves, so it is helping their professional development too. Apprentices and trainers alike can create products and parts in their training that are being used on our boats. They build from scratch and can see that part on the boat.”
Cassandra Horan, General Manager of BUSY At Work Australian Apprenticeship Support Services, stated, “Riviera are leading the way in addressing skills shortages for industry and are a shining example of how apprentices are the industry skills solution for the future.
“For many years we’ve worked closely with Riviera by supporting their apprenticeship needs, including BUSY Sisters mentoring support for the female apprentices entering the boating industry. We’re super excited to see Riviera in the State finals again this year and will be there on the finals night, wishing them all the best – they truly deserve the recognition they are receiving!”
Find out more about the Queensland Training Awards 2024.
Find out more about Riviera Australia.
Learn more about BUSY At Work Apprenticeship Support Services and BUSY Sisters mentoring program.
Accepting the Queensland Training Awards, SE Qld Large Employer of the Year Award are managers from Riviera (L-R): Kyle Davison, Keira Badke, Justin Leigh-Smith and Darren Kearns. Riviera has since won the State Award of Large Employer of the Year, held 7th September.
