Australia: ABB recruits specialist to develop regional employment

Integrated Australian agribusiness, ABB Grain Ltd, has appointed a specialist to address the pressing task of developing and maintaining a sustainable regional workforce, according to company’s press release, July 12.

In a newly created position, Richard Puplett has been appointed the company’s regional employment development manager in a bid to ensure valuable regional employees with skills needed by ABB are not lost to competing industries.

ABB’s general manager, corporate services, Terry O’Connor, said that around 500 of the company’s current 850 permanent staff were based in regional South Australia.

“Like other employers, we are fighting for the finite talent available in regional areas,” Mr O’Connor said.

“In a normal season we rely on up to 1200 employees from regional areas of our state to help us through the harvest. So, it’s crucial that we can continue to be seen by potential employees as an attractive and viable employment opportunity.

“Richard’s role will be to support the company, in particular our national supply chain division, and develop a sustainable skilled regional workforce, through liaising with Federal and State governments and other industries employing staff with similar skill sets.”

Mr O’Connor said the new role was critical both for harvest recruitment and longer-termed skilled regional recruitment and retention. It built upon several human resources initiatives currently being undertaken by ABB.

“This is about addressing the rural decline, developing and retaining skills development; it’s about developing a long-term strategy so we can help people stay working where they want to be,” he said.

Mr Puplett, who began work at ABB on June 26, said he was very enthusiastic about the challenges ahead and could draw upon more than 20 years experience gained in employment and training and regional development.

13 July, 2007