Thales Australia

"No Other Way"

A little about Thales Australia

Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and, with Thales Australia's recent acquisition of ADI, it has added another 3500 employees. Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offerings.

In Australia, Thales is contracted to operate and maintain seven simulator sites, from Toowoomba to Perth. Thales Australia operates, maintains and supports a $48 million dollar flight simulator at RAAF Edinburgh. Thales is contracted to have any problem with the simulator fixed within 30 minutes.

All of Thales's employees at RAAF Edinburgh were once apprentices. Thales prefers apprentices who are a little older, who have experienced the difficulties of getting a job, and who wish to settle down and start a career for themselves.

Addressing the skills shortage

"We were the first company to recognise the skills shortage in the industry and to train apprentices. We saw the writing on the wall years ago and realised we need to take on the short fall of skilled technicians. We did it out of necessity. There is no other way to meet the skills shortages, and the benefits far outweigh the time it takes to train an apprentice. The government also helps - there is a government apprentice rebate, toolkits for apprentices, and a living away from home allowance.

You cannot just get anyone off the street to be a simulator technician. There are core skills to be a technician such as electronics, but you cannot just do one course and come out as a simulator technician. That is the great thing about having apprentices, you can nurture them and mould them to how you want. We prefer to take apprentices in their early twenties - those who have done work and are ready to settle down. They are more enthusiastic and understand the benefit of completing their course. We see it as the start of a career path."

Moulding the way apprentices work

"We can shape the apprentices into exactly the type of people we want. And we have the opportunity to correct them and that's why I encourage them to do homework here at work so that we can guide them and make sure they finish - we want them to do well. We can monitor their progress and help them when they get stuck."

Succession Planning

"Because we are in such a niche market we cannot just hire experienced people. We rely on hiring within the company to fill senior positions. Having apprentices has allowed us to do this. Apprentices at Thales are guaranteed a job at the end of their apprenticeship."

"Thales encourages continual training throughout one's career. As technology changes so rapidly, technicians need to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge, and Thales offers great career development opportunities, encouraging apprentices to become simulator technicians and go on to become engineers/managers.

To become a simulator technician there are 3 tiers of training at Thales:

• The apprenticeship;
• Generic introduction to simulators and simulator specific courses, which are in-house and taught by senior technicians (this also provides employees with the opportunity to become trainers if they want);
• Then there are development and training opportunities at other simulator sites and externally (such as the restricted cabling licence or an auto-cad or systems engineering course) and, of course, on the job training."

Increased Flexibility

"If other sites are screaming for help, I am able to send somebody. The benefits of this are two-fold: another site is helped, and the technician is able to gain experience on another simulator, which further develops their skills and knowledge.

Having an apprentice allows site flexibility. Each shift requires 2 people minimum; an apprentice can be this second person. This allows other technicians to go to other sites, to go on training etc. It relieves the more experienced guys to do other things."

Cost Savings

"Having an apprentice as the second body on a shift is cheaper for the company, rather than paying two fully qualified technicians to be present. When we have a requirement for 2 people to be present - when one of those people is an apprentice that relieves another person to be able to do something else."

Safety

"Because we have an apprentice working with a senior person there is an additional benefit with regards to safety - there are always 2 people working on any one job."

Assists the Company Expansion

"Even though the industry is a niche market, Thales is able to expand because we have the people trained and ready to go."

Links with Regency TAFE and impact on the course design

"Our apprentices attend Regency TAFE for the equivalent of one day per week. Sending the apprentices weekly to TAFE brings back greater benefits to the company, as the apprentices are able to apply their knowledge on the job regularly. We chose the course for our apprentices and have input into the electives that Regency teach - to make them relevant to us. We also get invitations to the graduation ceremony; we sponsor a student award and get the opportunity to raise awareness of our company with the students."

For more information about Thales Group go to www.thalesgroup.com

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