Wilmar Sugar is proud to be part of a new government advisory group focused on improving apprenticeship outcomes. 

Wilmar’s Training and Development Manager Scott Young is a member of the Queensland Apprenticeship Advisory Reference Group which met for the first time on 16 February.

 The group includes members from across industries and the state, including Queensland Training Ombudsman Geoff Favell, recent apprentices, employers, unions, and training and school organisations.

Chaired by SunCentral’s Amanda Yeates, the group will provide advice on industry-led solutions to improve the effectiveness of Queensland’s apprenticeship and traineeship system.

The group will also look at issues such as persistent skills shortages, systemic challenges and the need for greater diversity and cultural change in male-dominated occupations, such as trades.

Scott Young brings a great deal of experience, knowledge and passion to the table. A former boilermaker and training program manager, Scott came to Wilmar in 2016 to manage our apprenticeship program. He's now the company's Training and Development Manager.

Wilmar employs about 130 apprentices across its eight factories and bioethanol distillery at any one time. The apprenticeship program is one of the most successful in Australia, with a completion rate of 98 per cent.

“We’ve implemented a number of strategies over the years to ensure our program is robust and our apprentices are well supported,” Scott said.

“I’m proud of where we’re at but we’re always looking to improve our program.

“Being part of the new advisory group is an opportunity to provide an employer’s perspective around what more can be done to attract people into apprenticeships and ensure they complete their training programs.”

The advisory group’s formation is among a range of actions being implemented in response to a review of support by the Ombudsman and as part of the Queensland Workforce Strategy – connecting good people to good jobs.