There's a new endeavor, and bright green office space, in George Town.
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KEEN (Key Employment and Education Network) Partners is the project of respected businessman Ray Mostogl, and other business leaders of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone.
Its aim is simple: to connect George Town locals with jobs.
In his speech at the official opening on Thursday, March 28, Mr Mostogl commented on a strange economic trend in the region.
He said that industry had noticed a shortage of skilled workers available to them.
At the same time, youth unemployment in George Town sits at 30 per cent.
KEEN hopes to resolve that contradiction, by supporting George Town locals in up-skilling, obtaining and retaining work.
"People can't find work, and industry can't find employees," he said.
"How can that be?
"In Tasmania, we have 15 per cent youth unemployment, and in our local region, it's 30 per cent. That's a lot of people out of work.
"And in fact, ABS data shows that in 2017, 55 per cent of manufacturing businesses were having trouble recruiting.
"We're in a wonderful situation where there is a boom going on in Tasmania, but if we can't fill the jobs that we've got, things are only going to get tougher."
Mr Mostogl is the former Bell Bay Aluminium general manager, a former board member of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and the Tasmanian Mineral and Energy Council, and CEO magazine's 2014 Manufacturing Executive of the Year.
KEEN Partners chairman is Kempe Engineering branch manager Roger Aalbregt, who has big plans for the venture.
"In five - eight years time, we would like to be known as the company which changed the way vocational education occurs in workplaces across the state and the nation," he said.
Minister for Building and Construction Sarah Courtney, who launched the business, said "since the Hodgman government was elected, more than 12,000 jobs have been created and our economy is among the best-performing in the nation."
Register at keenpartners.com.au.
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