Bruce Mathieson Snr talks Apprenticeships

With over 15,000 staff, of which 200 are apprentices, CEO Bruce Mathieson Snr is well aware of the challenges faced by apprentices today - and especially how they compare to those of when he was an apprentice.
ALH (Australia Leisure and Hospitality Group), is no shy organisation. It is the home of over 200 pubs and clubs, and over 450 retail liquor outlets, including BWS and Dan Murphy’s. With over 15,000 staff, of which 200 are apprentices, CEO Bruce Mathieson Snr is well aware of the challenges faced by apprentices today - and especially how they compare to those of when he was an apprentice. He talks to Linda Nell about the expectations and pressures of school leavers today.

“Kids should be given a chance in life,” Mr Matheson Snr says – especially as so many kids believe they are failures if they do not pass their final exams to enter into university. This, Mathieson Snr asserts, is wrong. “Not everyone wants to go to uni; not everyone needs to go to uni to be a success in life. All children have different interests and skills and we need to present opportunities for all.”

“Young people who are not academic do not think they have a future, but in fact they are some the best resources we have in this country. A career in the trades can open up many doors. I can speak from experience that kids can forge a wonderful career in hospitality, working their way through an exciting and varied environment all the way to the top.”

Afterall, Mr Matheison Snr left school at 11 and started an apprenticeship as a toolmaker at age 13. “I started off as a toolmaker and ended up as a publican! I never would have envisaged that when I was 11.” Although, calling himself simply a publican is being quite modest – since Mathieson Snr is one of the richest men in the country.

He encourages the apprentice chefs within his organisation to do their tasks to the best of their ability , and to treat their work as a career. His personal life principle is ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’

He sums up his vigour of his work: “No one knows at that age what they are going to do for the rest of their life. Unless you have a go - how do you know?”

Sourced from Linda Nell, MEGT.com.au