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Hazell Bros was proud to host Minister for Education David Bartlett and his guests for the announcement of the inaugural Skills Tasmania Board members.

As Southern Region Employer of Choice winner, Hazell Bros was chosen as the announcement venue.

"Skilled labour shortages are the biggest hurdle facing Tasmania in sustaining our strong economic growth.

"To tackle our skills shortages we need to think long term and retain our students at school as well as getting industry involved," Mr Bartlett said.

Hazell Bros Managing Director Geoffrey Hazell welcomed Mr Bartlett and spoke about Hazell Bros' skills promotion and training strategies,

"We have a workforce of more than 400 people and 10 per cent of these are apprentices and trainees - we strive to develop these people.

"In the last year, 75 per cent of our workforce undertook formal training," Mr Hazell said.

"Hazell Bros is also involved in community programs to address the skills shortage, including TAPS, CIC, U-Turn, OzHelp, Make It Big, and school careers days," he said.

Mr Bartlett said that the President of the Business Council of Australia's Higher Education Round Table, David Hind, had been chosen to chair the new Skills Tasmania Board.

"Mr Hind is a former chair of the Australian National Training Authority as well as a member of the Manufacturing Reference Group of the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence.

"He will be supported by six other board members with very strong experience across a range of industries including resources, tourism, technology and social services," Mr Bartlett said. 

Geoffrey also gave Mr Bartlett and Mr Hind a guided tour of the Hazell Bros workshop.