Southwell Engineering Pty Ltd proudly received the MWLP Business of the Month in June 2014 for Outstanding Contribution to the Youth of Macarthur.

"The Award has been ongoing since April 2008 and is a way for MWLP to thank the wonderful hosts who take on our students", Sue Scobie MWLP's Marketing and Communications Manager said. "It is highly sought after and well regarded by our host businesses who take on over 3,000 students per year".

For the past seven years Southwell Lifts & Hoists has been offering one week work placements to Year 11 and 12 students who are studying Metal & Engineering as part of their Higher School Certificate.

Production Manager, Stephen Cantrill, believes that we should be training our youth for the future, whilst supporting the local community.  "The pool of talent is diminishing and boilermakers are becoming scarce.  We need to attract young people to our trade and that is why we give students from the MWLP program a chance to get onsite training," says Stephen. 

He adds "We are currently looking for an apprentice and this is an ideal way to assess possible candidates.  We put time into these kids, allocate them to a tradesperson and get them actively involved in basic drilling, preassembly, fitting, turning and welding.  We will even tailor the work for the right student.  I have been in the trade for some 30 years and it is rewarding to see some students go on to become competent tradespeople and even managers.  I believe that those companies not taking on students are missing an opportunity.  Give them a go - it's really not that hard!"