We at Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) consistently foster young talent in our business – in fact we initiated our apprentice program more than a decade ago – so it was highly rewarding to see, once again, a record number of apprentice forklift technicians (14) inducted during our recent annual intake.
This achievement follows last year’s apprentice forklift technician intake also setting a new record.
Joining the TMHA family is in high demand amongst budding technicians. In a reflection of TMHA as the national forklift market leader, a staggering 826 applications for apprenticeships were received from around the country this year.
The 14 new apprentices, accompanied by mentors from their respective TMHA branches, were inducted and received their tools-of-trade at TMHA's Sydney headquarters at the end of March. They also received presentations on Toyota values, company policies and expectations, safety procedures and Toyota history, and a tour of TMHA's extensive national HQ.
TMHA president and CEO, Steve Takacs – who, inspirationally, began his career as a forklift technician – was on hand to welcome the inductees. It was touching to see these next-generation technicians embark on their TMHA journey.
The record haul of new apprentices brings the total current number of apprentices completing their four-year courses across our 18 branches to 35. These can ultimately join our current 450 staff in product-support roles.
TMHA now has 35 apprentices completing their four-year courses across our 18 branches and a total of 450 staff in product-support roles ensuring we have a strong skills base to support our business.
The apprentice program ensures a constant flow of the country’s best technicians into TMHA and is the first step in ensuring the highest levels of product support continue for our customers into the future because today's apprentices are tomorrow's technicians.
TMHA has been at the forefront of forklift technician training for much of the 50 years we have sold forklifts in Australia.
Having a skilled team of technicians ready to provide high-quality back-up for all Toyota material-material handling equipment is a clear benefit for our customers, nationwide, and part of the Toyota Advantage.
TMHA has inducted a new group of technical apprentices pictured here with TMHA management team