Advertising feature
The Group Training Employment Specialists (GTES) are the career kick starters of the Riverina.
Supporting thousands of apprentices and trainees year in and out, the GTES team have not only ensured the future of trade skills in the region, but ensured businesses have the bright talent they need.
Along the way GTES has celebrated and rewarded those who have excelled and mentored our region’s future business leaders.
But now all eyes are on the GTES team itself as the company celebrates its biggest milestone.
This week GTES celebrates 30 years supporting local businesses by securing reliable people with trade skills.
This advertising feature is sponsored by:
- GTES
- Kildare Catholic College
- Sheather’s Painting and Decorating
- Jed’s Heavy Vehicle Maintenance
- Family Link Care and Support Services Inc
- Wagga City Council
- Hartwigs Trucks
- Creative Business Furniture and Joinery
- RIC Electrics
- MPS Painting and Decorating
- Inland Truck Centres
- S&L Cochrane Timber Joinery
- Nixons Engineering
- Piper and Harvey Steel Fabrication
It has come a long way since its early days with GTES general manager Tim Phelps reflecting on its history.
“Our company has certainly evolved significantly since we first started trading in 1985,” Mr Phelps said.
“The company was originally formed in response to the realisation in some industry sectors that Australia was going to have an issue with trade skills in the future.”
Originally named Wagga Wagga Regional Group Apprentices Limited, it has always been and remains to this day not-for-profit.
“Whilst the company has increased its professionalism and now delivers a service that can and does compete with any commercial organisation, we never forget our purpose and that remains unchanged from 30 years ago – to assist apprentices and trainees to complete their qualification,” he said.
What has changed however, is the focus on the client or host employer.
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“We have developed the business advisory aspect of our service to the point we are now a valued human resources partner to our host businesses,” Mr Phelps said.
By providing freedom from employment restrictions, less administration, higher completion rates, more support and reduced liability, businesses greatly benefit from aligning themselves with the service.
With the threat of a skills shortage just as prominent as it was three decades ago, Mr Phelps said it is important for GTES to continue to provide a variety of services to businesses as the group apprentice scheme may not be the preferred option for all employers.
“GTES is just about to launch a pilot project called the Apprentice Completion Service,” Mr Phelps said.
“It is a model that involves mentoring and electives for various forms of support to both the apprentice and the business but doesn’t involve GTES taking on the role of legal employer.”
Such innovations will take GTES forward into the next 30 years of operation.
