​​Nyaal Banyul wins Industry Collaboration Award

Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) Program was named the winner of the Industry Collaboration Award at the 2025 Victorian Training Awards.

The GEESP 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 program provides fully funded training through the Gordon TAFE and real world on the job experience, working on the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

Acting Project Director Rebecca Cobb-Clark represented Development Victoria at the awards, and said this project shows what can be achieved when government, industry and community organisations come together with purpose.

“The collaboration has created genuine pathways for local people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds to access training and employment opportunities linked to major infrastructure projects,” Ms Cobb-Clark said.

Through the GEESP program, 43 apprentices have been created and more than 37,000 hours of training delivered to date in mechanical, carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades.

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