Holden adding more staff

Holden Holden News Holden Commodore Holden Commodore News Holden Commodore 2011 Holden Cruze Holden Cruze News Holden Cruze 2011 Sedan Best Sedan Cars Holden Sedan Range Industry news Family Cars Car News
...
The company has recruited 265 new staff since it resurrected the second shift, and is looking for another 49 staff.
Photo of Stuart Martin
Stuart Martin

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

The Adelaide-based car maker's recruiting office is looking for another 49 staff to fill production line positions.

The company has recruited 265 new staff since it resurrected the second shift and took on local production of the Cruze small car earlier this year.

Last month's sales figures showed the Holden Commodore had returned to the number one position as the country's most popular car, almost tripling the sales of its arch rival, Ford's Falcon.

The Cruze recorded almost 3000 sales last month to top the small car sales list and rank third overall in vehicle sales for May. The 314 new jobs follow the company's cuts to its Australian workforce that reduced it from a peak of more than 6000 staff to just over 4500 during 2009.

Holden's HR director for labour and manufacturing operations Ashley Winnett said the additional staff were required because of Cruze and Commodore sales.

"We made the decision on Monday, Cruze and Commodore sales, as well as some US police car orders - but mainly the Cruze sales figures," he said.

Mr Winnett said the 49 new staff - in production and trade capacities - would also be offered 12 month contracts in line with offers made to recently-hired new staff. "The approach we've taken is that we want to build slowly and make sure there's momentum behind us, it's a sensible business approach.

"We're doing it on a business but we've got the right number for where we're at at the moment," he said.

The company also wants to encourage female applicants to consider a position in the manufacturing sector with Holden.

"A lot of females don't consider it as a career, we've increased female staff by 33 per cent - off a low base - since last year, we want to continue to market manufacturing as an area for females to consider in terms of a career," he said.

Holden has also opened applications for its co-operative undergraduate student program, a year-long paid course for as many as 25 students who want industry experience.

Photo of Stuart Martin
Stuart Martin

Contributing Journalist

GoAutoMedia Stuart Martin started his legal driving life behind the wheel of a 1976 Jeep ragtop, which he still owns to this day, but his passion for wheeled things was inspired much earlier. Born into a family of car tinkerers and driving enthusiasts, he quickly settled into his DNA and was spotting cars or calling corners blindfolded from the backseat of his parents' car before he was out of junior primary. Playing with vehicles on his family's rural properties amplified the enthusiasm for driving and his period of schooling was always accompanied by part-time work around cars, filling with fuel, working on them or delivering pizzas in them. A career in journalism took an automotive turn at Sydney's Daily Telegraph in the early 1990s and Martin has not looked backed, covering motor shows and new model launches around the world ever since. Regular work and play has subsequently involved towing, off-roading, the school run and everything in between, with Martin now working freelance as a motoring journalist, contributing to several websites and publications including GoAuto - young enough for hybrid technology and old enough to remember carburettors, he’s happiest behind the wheel.
About Author

Comments