PHOTO COURTESY RIVIERARiviera Yachts is investing in the local boating industry with the opening of the Riviera Academy of Excellence. Based at company headquarters on Australia’s Gold Coast, the center can accommodate 150 apprentices across 10 trades, including composite technology, boatbuilding, diesels and cabinetry.
The center opened Jan. 12 with 52 trainees, 27 of which are school-based and 25 who are full-time apprentices. It occupies 7,320 square feet and has two full workshops, classrooms, offices and a meeting room.
“It’s always an exciting day for these young apprentices and their proud families,” apprentice and training manager Keira Badke said in a statement. “Our holistic training program offers strong support for our apprentices where we teach their chosen trade skills alongside coaching life skills to help nurture world-class people that will help build our world-class motoryachts.”
The academy was opened by senior training instructor Darren Kearns and instructor Justin Leigh-Smith, who both completed marine apprenticeships in 1996. Kearns has been with Riviera more than 18 years, and Kearns has spent 30 years with the company.
