Taskforce makes the right connections
When Andrew Jewitt sought a new career and retrained, he hoped to find a company he could work with for the rest of his career.
When the team at Aquaknect were becoming busier post-COVID, it hoped to connect with great staff who were the right fit.
Using the Mayor’s Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce team in the Logan Office of Economic Development, both Andrew and Aquaknect found what they were looking for. Andrew has now spent a year overseeing the warehouse operations at the business.
‘It has been brilliant for us to work with Logan City Council, and we have hired a number of good people as a result,’ Aquaknect’s Rita Nath says.
Rita met Paul Bailey, Council’s employment support coordinator, and he found jobseekers who were a good fit.
‘He knows what we need, the kind of person we are looking for, and he can usually find someone for us quickly. He’s got the right connections and filters out the right person,’ Rita says.
Aquaknect makes flexible hoses for gas and water, supplying major plumbing shops across Australia and overseas. It’s e been operating since 1986 and currently has a staff of 21 people.
For Andrew, the job was perfect. After 20 years in retail, he was retraining with Multilink Community Services to get a certificate qualification in logistics and met Paul while studying.
‘Paul would come down once a week and check in with us about what kind of workplaces we were looking for and he would put his feelers out for us,’ he says.
‘My son and I were studying at the same time, and he got my son a job before he had even finished the course. Not long after that he called me and said “have I got the place for you” – I came and did the interview here and it is perfect.
‘I could happily be here until I retire. These are really good people to work for, I enjoy what I do. It’s the perfect mix of autonomy and teamwork.’
Rita agrees Aquaknect is the perfect place for Andrew.
‘I am really glad Andrew came to join us – he is very good at his job and fits in culturally too. He’s the first person I call If I need something!’
For more information about how Logan City Council supports businesses and jobseekers visit Logan Office of Economic Development (loed.com.au)
For more information about Aquaknect head to their website.
