Wilmar Sugar has announced the opening of applications for their 2022 apprenticeship round this Saturday July 10, calling on the next generation of apprentices to get their resumes ready.

With a variety of jobs on offer, applicants will have the opportunity to choose from apprenticeships in diesel fitting, electrical, fitting and turning, and fabricating trades, to be placed across any one of Wilmar’s eight sugar mills and bioethanol distillery.

Katelyn Smith, a first-year fitting and turning apprentice stationed at the Victoria Mill near Ingham, said she changed to an apprenticeship after six years of following a different career path and was glad she made the decision.

“I started as a fiber chemist at Victoria Mill. Through that, I spoke to some tradesmen and fitters, and I got to see the type of work they were doing,” Ms Smith said.

“I really like Wilmar’s safety values, so knowing you will come home safe every day.”

Wilmar Sugar apprentices.
 Wilmar Sugar apprentices.

First year fitting and turning apprentice, George Burns, said his apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to attain skills he had always wanted to learn.

“I grew up on a farm and used to pull machinery apart and put it back together, just never correctly, so this field will help me understand how it goes back together,” Mr Burns said.

“Most of the work in the mills is done in-house. You do it and you learn from that hands-on experience.”
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Wilmar have said the applications will remain open for three weeks, closing on Sunday August 1.

Training superintendent, Daniel Shipard said they are very proud of their apprenticeship program, and the level of interest they have received in the past.

“We currently employ about 130 apprentices across various trades,” Mr Shipard said.

“The four main trades that we focus on are fabricating, fitting and turning, electrical and diesel fitting.

Mr Shipard said the application is to be completed online and its fairly straightforward.