HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL APPRENTICE CHALLENGE WITH OUR PRIME MOVERS

As the nation focuses on rebuilding after a tough 2020, the demand for skilled truck technicians grows ever higher with pressure on road transport, trades, services and related construction industries. This is reflected in Australia’s employment statistics, which show technicians and trade workers accounting for almost 1.8 million employees, 84 per cent of those employed full time, and the broader sector expected to grow by 5.5 per cent by 2023. In this light, quality education and support for the next generation of skilled workers is a top priority and we're pleased to announce the supply of two new GXD 165-350 from our FX Series line-up for the duration of the 2021 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge. Best and brightest Organised by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the National Apprentice Challenge is known for attracting mechanical apprentices from all over Australia to compete in a staged competition held as part of the biennial Brisbane Truck Show. In 2019, the HVIA National Apprentice Challenge attracted over 70 competitors nation-wide. In the upcoming 2021 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge, contestants will be working under the pressure of a ticking clock, as they compete to identify and rectify a series of programmed faults on the two Isuzu GXD 165-350s. Our Isuzu national service manager Brett Stewart said the National Apprentice Challenge presented an exciting opportunity for emerging talent in the industry to showcase their skills. “Isuzu Trucks is happy to contribute through the supply of brand-new product for the competing teams to work on throughout the duration of the competition. “As the top truck brand in the country, we are invested in the growth of Australia’s automotive industry and are proud to support the cream of the crop of Australia’s emerging technical skills talent. “The competition serves to highlight the automotive service industry as an exciting career choice for the nation’s best and brightest,” Mr Stewart said. Motivating skilled techs All initial nominees for the competition were required to undergo a two-hour online test which was set and graded by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech. From there, two apprentices with the highest score from each region were selected to form three competing teams: the Eastern Region team comprising apprentices from Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; the Southern Region team representing Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia; and the North-Western Region team from Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Winners will receive prize packages including hosted trips to the 2021 Supercars Gold Coast 600 event and tool prizes courtesy of Warby Tools. “This is an important competition, coinciding with our industry’s most prestigious event in the Brisbane Truck Show, and Isuzu Trucks are extremely pleased to be in a position to lend our support,” Mr Stewart concluded. For further details about the 2021 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge, visit the Brisbane Truck Show website.