The experience, training and backing offered to people who want to forge their own destiny in the booming hydraulics service business is drawing like-minded people to the Australasian hydraulic hose and fittings leader, Hydraulink.
“We are attracting people from many walks of life – from robust trades backgrounds, including diesel, mining, and civil engineering mechanical skills, right through to others wanting a complete change of career to take charge of their own lifetime choices and directions. Because of this, one of the leading questions we get asked is ‘What Training do you provide?’” says Hydraulink National Franchise Manager, Wayne Abbott.
We often get people who have reached a point in their career where they are already highly competent but ready to do something for themselves and their family as a franchise operator with world-class backing. However, if others have no formal trade qualification, but a recognisable mechanical aptitude, along with the right attitude and willingness to learn, and we believe in them, we will invest in them through in-house training before putting them in the field to practise our high standards.
“The feedback from both groups is terrific. Many say, ‘Why didn’t I do this before?’ or ‘Now I can spend more time with my family instead of missing out on my kids growing up’”.
“It is a truly authentic voice of good experience,” says Wayne, who is charged with bringing into the network both in-house employees where Hydraulink provides the opportunity to own a franchise business, and new franchisees who align with the company’s can-do ethos expressed in its corporate signature of “Best Under Pressure”.
“Both new franchisee and employee applicants tell us word-of-mouth is strong within the industry that Hydraulink is the place to be if you want to get ahead. People know that we want our employed staff to succeed and eventually open their own franchise. Also, our franchises know that we are there backing them all the way as part of the Hydraulink family of businesses, with world-class ongoing training, outstanding product and supply lines, and the willingly given shared experience of scores of people who want to see others like them advance.
What makes us different is that we can and do provide a full spectrum of experience to new operators in areas where we already have a wealth of knowledge, such as civil engineering, construction, infrastructure, materials handling, primary industry and forestry, fleet transport, road, and rail operations. It gives people great confidence,” says Wayne Abbott.
Wayne notes that in-field support – including remote area operations – is complemented by initiatives such as Hydraulink Academy training and familiarisation on world-best practices to ensure uptime and reliability for clients. Hydraulink also runs trainee programmes in conjunction with industry leading companies such as Ai Group, Dale Carnegie, Skillshub and Safetyhub. These courses focus on leadership, sales, safety, hose fitting, predictive maintenance, and troubleshooting.
The Hydraulink Academy offers a range of hydraulics-focussed training programmes, including a number of nationally recognised units. The programmes – which can be tailored to suit particular requirements – are run by qualified trainers either on-site at a customer facility, through online learning, or at a dedicated Hydraulink Academy venue in Australia or New Zealand.
“The courses involve nationally recognised units of competency, which can be used by the graduate towards a later higher qualification such as a Cert II, III, IV or Diploma within the Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package,” explains Wayne.
“Hydraulink aims to be the best in everything it does. We want to deliver top value and top reliability to customers who entrust us with their expensive machines. Unlike lesser operators, who might send out a service technician who doesn’t understand the piece of machinery they are looking at – or don’t know how to operate in partnership with site staff and site protocols – we aim for enduring partnerships, founded on mutual respect and deep value. That’s the way we operate, and that’s what we look for in the people who join us as a family of like-minded, mutually supportive people.”
“Usually our candidates have trades, diesel, civil engineering, resources, or primary industry skills, but attitude is also very important – we will train people who are focussed on delivering enduring value for customers, and wanting to advance themselves and their families. We want our in-house people to succeed, ultimately become franchise operators, and we encourage our franchise operators to succeed and even become multi-franchise operators. Self-motivation with collective strength is a great formula. Everyone wins that way!”
Hydraulink is extensively expanding its Australian network of 14 company-owned sites, 135 network partners, and 150 service vehicles offering 24/7 onsite and mobile services to the same high levels of outstanding service, safety, standards compliance, traceability, and diverse machinery and equipment knowledge.
The Hydraulink service network, which operates over more than 400 service outlets in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia, and West Coast USA, has a tradition of more than 75 years of service and training excellence. It was selected to provide hose and fitting services for yachts competing in the most recent Americas Cup and will do the same for all competitors in the 2024 event.
To lodge a franchise enquiry; go to www.joinhydraulink.com or email franchise@hydraulink.com.au
Hydraulink Australia 1300 36 37 34