Building skills, jobs and local landmarks for Geelong

As the Nyaal Banyul development continues its rapid rise on Geelong’s Waterfront, the project and its partners are supporting new job opportunities for Geelong residents who have experienced barriers to employment.

Through a joint government, industry and community program called the GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program, 43 apprenticeships have now been created and more than 37,000 hours of training delivered in mechanical, carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades.

The number of hours of training delivered is expected to reach 45,000 hours by the time Nyaal Banyul is finished, highlighting the power of the project to create jobs and develop skills.

The program includes 12 weeks of fully funded training at the Gordon TAFE, mentoring, pre-employment guidance and on-site work experience for participants, many of whom have faced significant barriers to employment before stepping on site, such as long-term unemployment, educational challenges or limited industry access.

The program was co-designed by Development Victoria, the Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, and social enterprise gforce, and is being delivered by the Nyaal Banyul head contractor, Built.

The GEESP program creates career pathways in construction via nationally accredited qualifications, with its first apprentice recently securing ongoing employment with Faulkner Roofing, a Geelong company that has installed 8,000 square metres of roofing at the convention centre precinct.

In September the program was named the winner of the Industry Collaboration category of this year’s Victorian Training Awards and a finalist in the Australian Training Awards.

Beyond the career-shaping apprenticeship opportunities, the Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre development has also created 1,450 jobs during construction, with hundreds more expected upon completion.

Nyaal Banyul is being delivered as a partnership with the Plenary Conventions consortium, with Plenary Group as a sponsor, investor and hotel and commercial building developer, Built as builder, Woods Bagot as architect and BGIS as facilities manager.

The project is funded through the Geelong City Deal, a $676 million investment from the federal and state governments and City of Greater Geelong. to revitalise Geelong and unlock the potential of the Great Ocean Road visitor economy.

With more than $47 billion delivered in rural and regional investment in just over a decade, the Victorian Government continues to drive regional economic growth. Find out more or watch the video below.