Four women and four men will join the first group of apprentices and upon completion of the programme will earn a recognised qualification in the mechanic field.
The apprenticeship programme will span six months and function as a partnership between Thiess and CEIM (Centro de Entrenamiento Industrial y Minero), a technical education institution in Antofagasta, Chile.
The programme is divided into two parts. The first two months will take place at CEIM's facilities and focus on developing academic knowledge in maintenance. During the following four months, the apprentices will specialise by spending time working at Thiess' Innovation, Technology and Training Center (ITTEC) in La Negra, Antofagasta. Here the apprentices will gain more practical experience working alongside our maintenance personnel in the field.
South America asset manager Juan Pablo Congote, said the apprenticeship program is critical to the future of Thiess in Chile. "One of our biggest strengths is our operational optimisation and our equipment performance. To continue providing world-class service to our clients, we must invest in the next generation of maintenance specialists.
"Our commitment to providing continual learning and education for our people is also of major importance, as we strive to maintain an industry-leading fleet and implement the best technology as it becomes available," Pablo said.
Manager organisation development and training, Americas, Alejandra Arze, said: "At Thiess, we know that development and innovation can only happen to the extent that we are committed to people. That is why supporting new talent in mining is essential. We firmly believe that mining today needs ambassadors, who are motivated to find new and better ways of doing things, who are adaptable and can meet the challenges we face today while anticipating those we will face in the future."
Programa de Mantenimiento Mecánico de Equipos Móviles was developed through a concentrated effort by the training and development team in Chile - Alejandra, Carla and Pedro Olivares, with the intention of preparing the apprentices for Thiess' maintenance demands, as well as to foster a spirit of continual learning as technology advances.
"We want this group to take advantage of the opportunity to increase their knowledge and gain practical experience, but above all, we hope they enjoy the work and pass on that enthusiasm to others, so that together, we can build the mining industry of the future," Arze said.
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