THE Coles Queensland general manager is aware that one of eight Spinifex State College students training in the Mount Isa store may one day have his job.
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Paul Bradshaw said retail positions were not just for part-time students – many trainees had risen through the corporate ranks.
Perhaps this could include a Spinifex student currently training in Mount Isa.
Mr Bradshaw was 14 when he first worked for Coles, and 35 years later he remains with the company.
He said seven student trainees would work on registers while another would work in dairy, which was a “great start to their careers”.
“We hope this is the start of a long career with us,” Mr Bradshaw said.
Seven of the new trainees were Indigenous.
The high percentage was unintentional but the company said it did want to support Indigenous leaders in the community.
Coles had targets to employ 300 indigenous employees in Queensland, and 1000 within Coles.
Spinifex Indigenous support officer Megan Graham said the positions attracted much interest at the school when she advertised them.
Traineeships were good because they developed confidence, self-esteem and a regular routine, she said.
