An in-house graduate program by an award-winning employer is helping to attract new talent, develop leaders and create career-long employees who are passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change.
Engineering firm Hatch was recently named one of Australia’s Top Graduate Employers by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers for the sixth consecutive year and the accolades are testimony to its ‘graduate first’ approach to internal development.
Each year, Hatch runs a Professional Development Program (PDP) that takes in around 100 university graduates from across Australia to complete the three-year course. The PDP runs in every Hatch office globally, with localised variations.
The secret to the program’s success is the program’s current participants and alumni shape the content, with support from the company’s senior leaders.
Graduates at any stage of their PDP journey can join the PDP Committee, commonly led by third-year graduates, to organise and deliver a range of workplace experiences, formal structured training, social events, and client engagement events.
Hatch managing director of Australia and Asia, Jan Kwak, explains how the PDP fits into the company’s flat management structure and culture.
“We are proud to provide a workplace with no org charts or hierarchy, and one which actively encourages employees of all ages and experience levels to share their ideas and suggestions with their colleagues,” he said.
“The answer to our greatest problems can be solved by anyone, so I make sure my door is always open.
“The PDP is unique because it is run by the people that are closest to it; they know first-hand what young professionals are looking for, and what they want from their professional development.
“We are looking forward to expanding the PDP further, taking on 50 per cent more graduates in our 2024 cohort.”
Alongside the PDP, Hatch Australia offers scholarships to engineering students from all backgrounds, including specific scholarships to support students experiencing financial hardship and women seeking engineering careers.
The Hatch Engineering Equity Scholarship and Hatch Women in Engineering Scholarship are run in partnership with University of Queensland to support eligible students.
The scholarship also awards applicants with a paid position at Hatch during their studies, offering on-site experience, mentorship, and exposure to a range of diverse, high-level projects. “
“By offering these scholarships we can support graduates through their studies and beyond, opening the door to those that without funding, may not see a future for themselves in engineering,” Kwak said.
“The scholarships also provide industry mentors, so students can begin establishing their own professional network.”
Michael Pierens, Graduate Structural Engineer at Hatch, received a Hatch Scholarship, and is now a graduate on the PDP.
“Having engineers with various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, fosters a working environment where problem-solving is undertaken by considering multiple perspectives, and innovation is encouraged,” he said.
Deon Cordie, regional manager for Mechanical & Piping, began his tenure at the company as a graduate engineer in 2005 and is now heavily involved in graduate recruitment and development for his division.
“Graduates are the future of the industry, these are the people that will carry on the Hatch legacy, so it is imperative as an organisation that we invest in the next generation,” Cordie said.
“Society has obviously advanced over the years, and as an organisation we have had to pivot and shift with that.
“Fundamentally, the Program is very similar to when I came through. It is about building yourself technically, gathering different experiences, and trying to identify the field you want to specialise in. I think we all feel that the graduates appear to get smarter every year, because some of the topics we hear about, are certainly inspiring.”
Wendy Harris, who also joined the 2005 cohort, is now Gas Handling and Ventilation Specialist and shares her memories as a Hatch graduate.
“Moving from interstate into a large global company like Hatch was an overwhelming yet exciting experience. I was working on advanced projects with highly competent people, and the graduate program provided great support in the first couple of years while I found my feet,” she said.