An in-house graduate program set up by Hatch 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.
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.
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.
Michael Pierens, Graduate Structural Engineer at Hatch, received a Hatch Scholarship, and is now a graduate on the PDP.
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.
Wendy Harris, who also joined the 2005 cohort, is now Gas Handling and Ventilation Specialist and shares her memories as a Hatch graduate.
Image: (left-right): Wendy Harris, Michael Pierens, Deon Cordie / Supplied
