Class of 2022 joins Glencore’s apprenticeship program

Media statement
Newcastle, Australia

Glencore has welcomed 62 new apprentices to its coal workforce through its 2022 apprenticeship program.

Among the 35 apprentices located in New South Wales and 27 based out of Queensland, are seven young ladies, including our first female boilermaker in New South Wales.

Since the program’s inception in 2002, Glencore has engaged close to 950 young and mature age apprentices who have learned trades in the company’s Australia coal business.

Glencore Coal’s Group Projects and Training Engineer, Paul Gill, said the Glencore apprentice program is diverse and offers unique opportunities.

“This year has seen the largest number of females apprentice since the apprenticeship program started 20 years ago,” Mr Gill said.

“We are committed to providing career paths for those with a keen interest to learn, particularly those from communities associated with our mining operations.”

For the first six to ten months, the apprentices will be based at skills centres located in Mudgee, Rutherford and Emerald before heading to their respective sites.

They will acquire basic skills and an understanding of the industrial working environment before they move to their mines and, through their second and third years, can move from site to site as well as external service providers who service Glencore’s mining equipment.

With 246 apprentices currently engaged in Glencore’s coal business, Mr Gill said the support of senior leadership was vital.

“Those involved go out of their way to make this a success,” Mr Gill said.

“Across the business, sites take a lot of pride in their apprenticeship program.

“It’s also wonderful to note that many of our supervisors today were former apprentices themselves.

“It demonstrates that the program can lead to further career opportunities.”

For further information, please contact:

Allyn Hamonet
m: +61 418 228 075
e: Allyn Hamonet

Nathan Ryan
m: +61 487 549 843
e: Nathan Ryan

Notes for editors

About Glencore

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 responsible-sourced commodities that advance everyday life. The Group's operations comprise around 150 mining and metallurgical sites and oil production assets.

With a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 30 marketing offices. Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 135,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Our ambition is to be a net zero total emissions company by 2050.

Visit Glencore's website to find out more.

About Glencore Australia

In Australia, Glencore produces coal, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, silver and gold from 26 mining operations. We also operate metals processing assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including metals smelters, concentrators and refineries.

We are among Australia’s largest producers and marketers of natural resources, connecting Australian resources with industrial customers around the world. Through our diverse portfolio, we responsibly supply the resources that advance everyday life.

We employ 17,690 people in Australia and in 2020 contributed over $13.8 billion to the regional, state and national economies. This included spend of $9.5 billion with 7,890 businesses across the country, as well as $2.1 billion in government tax and royalty payments.

We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace for our people, to respecting the environment, to engaging openly and constructively with the Traditional Owners on whose lands we operate and to bringing value to local communities.

Glencore recognises our responsibility to contribute to the global effort to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Our ambition is to be a net zero total emissions company by 2050. In August 2021 we increased our medium-term emission reduction target to a 50% reduction by 2035 and introduced a new short-term target of a 15% reduction by 2026.

Learn more about Glencore Australia.

About Glencore's coal business in Australia

Glencore is one of Australia's largest coal producers with 17 operational mines across New South Wales and Queensland.

We provide employment for almost 10,000 Australians and in 2020 managed the production of about 99 million tonnes of thermal and coking coal, predominantly for export.

We have a strong safety and environmental performance and play an active role in the development of low emission coal technology.