Building the future, one apprentice at a time

At Symal, apprenticeships and traineeships are more than programs, they’re how we invest in our people, build capability and strengthen our teams for today and tomorrow. From civil construction and carpentry to mobile plant technology, electrotechnology engineering and beyond, our apprentices gain hands-on experience while supporting projects across the country. 

We know the future of our industry is built by investing in people, creating clear pathways and providing real support for the next generation. That’s why these programs are a core part of how we grow our business. They don’t just create a pipeline for tomorrow, they strengthen our teams, support delivery today and build the depth and resilience our industry needs long term. 

Today, Symal supports more than 60 apprentices and trainees across a wide range of qualifications, with 43 people having already completed across the history of the program. This investment helps secure our future workforce, improve retention, support our diversity and social procurement commitments and develop the people who will lead and deliver the next generation of infrastructure projects. 

During National Apprenticeship Week, we’re proud to celebrate that commitment, and to recognise one standout example of what it can achieve. 

Meet our 2025 Apprentice of the Year: Corey Polkinghorne

Corey began his journey with Symal PPL as a Trade Assistant and is now an apprentice in Mobile Plant Technology, a progression driven by strong mechanical aptitude and a genuine, hands-on approach to learning. 

“I’ve always had a knack for fixing things,” Corey says. “This pathway was the right fit, and Symal gave me the support to pursue it.” 

Since starting his apprenticeship, Corey has taken on the challenge of learning the ins and outs of a wide range of machinery across the fleet. He’s also become known for stepping up when it matters. During a high-pressure period for another team, Corey volunteered to help keep critical equipment running. 

“It’s just good to lend a hand and see how other mechanics approach things,” he says. Being named Apprentice of the Year came as a surprise: “It was great to feel acknowledged by the team.” 

Corey is quick to credit his mentors, Adrian Roberts and Shannon Gore, for their support in the workshop and the office. He’s also committed to supporting new starters on site. “I like to treat others how I’d like to be treated,” he says, a mindset that reflects the culture we’re building across the business. 

From Adrian’s perspective, Corey’s success comes down to mindset: “Self-motivation, a willingness to learn, and the confidence to challenge the status quo for better results.” He also sees apprentices as critical to the business today, not just tomorrow, adding real depth to teams and helping meet the variety of challenges our industry presents. 

And if Corey has one piece of advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship? 

“Time’s going to pass anyway,” he says. “You may as well go for it.” 

At Symal, we’re proud to invest in apprentices and trainees, because building great projects starts with building great people.