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QR National is the new transport and logistics company formed from the impending privatisation of QR Limited.

QR National is set to be floated on the Australian Securities Exchange in coming months.

Managing Director & CEO Lance Hockridge said QR National was keen to harness the talent of young Australians to help grow the business.

“The rail freight transport sector in Australia is experiencing strong growth especially on the back of continued development and diversification in the resources sector,” Mr Hockridge said.

“There are many highly skilled young people, particularly in regional Australia, who will be crucial to our start as a private sector company and meeting the demands of growth.

“As a new publicly listed company unlike others we will continue to be an active part of the community in regional towns and cities as we have been for many years. In particular we will continue to support employment in these communities.

“Our growth is inextricably linked to the life and growth of these communities.

“And as a vertically integrated above and below rail business we will have the scope, scale and diversity to afford more young Australians greater opportunity.”

Mr Hockridge said QR National would boost its current apprentice, trainee and graduate numbers from the current approximately 75 per year to 300 per year within the next three years.

He said QR National would also establish strategic alliances with universities, TAFEs and other education providers which can support the development of recruits in key regional centres where they are based.

“These are young men and women looking for professional careers in trades such as painters, electricians, plumbers, trainees in office administration or graduates in professional fields such as accountancy, law, marketing or business,” he said.

“They will be the future of our company and have a unique opportunity to help grow our company into the leading transport and logistics provider in Australia.”

Mr Hockridge said the new program would also pair new recruits with existing skilled employees to fast-track their development.

“We are an organisation with a 145 year history and we recognise the value and depth of knowledge our more experienced employees have gained on the job,” he said.

“That is why we will establish a new mentoring program to pair new recruits with current employees to provide a structured process that will enable them to quickly access and understand trade practices and craftsmanship excellence.

“We expect this initiative will enable QR National to lead a new period of growth in the rail and resource industries.

“We will be attracting highly motivated employment candidates, ensuring full involvement of our valued existing employees and furthering our goal of being a leading employer of choice in Australia.”

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