Riviera launches recruitment drive to meet growing global demand
Growing international and domestic demand for Riviera’s world-class luxury motor yachts has stimulated a new recruitment drive at Australia’s 2015 Marine Industry Exporter of the Year based at Coomera in Queensland.
With a growing forward order bank for many of the marque’s impressive new models, Australia’s largest and most-awarded motoryacht-builder has announced the introduction of a fifth manufacturing line to facilitate increased production.
Initially, Riviera is seeking to fill 30 new positions to add to the talented 450-strong team of designers, engineers and master craftspeople at its state-of-the-art facility on the Gold Coast.
Chief executive officer Wes Moxey said Riviera is actively seeking skilled tradespeople in the disciplines of boat-building, composite marine electrical engineering fit-out, cabinet-making, spray-painting, refinishing, plug and pattern-making.
“Increased global demand is allowing us to grow our dedicated team across the entire business and that is great for Riviera, great for manufacturing in South East Queensland, and great for Australia’s export trade,” he said.
“We believe strongly in the future of the Australian marine industry and we are leading our industry in nurturing Australia’s future master craftsmen and women.”
“We are now training almost 40 apprentices directly at Riviera, and the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE’s Marine Training Centre is located here on-site alongside the biggest luxury motor yacht building facilities in the southern hemisphere.”
Riviera chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst – who returned the company to private ownership in 2012 – said greater refinement, increased luxury, impressive new models and class-leading innovation and dependability were key drivers of increased global demand across the five distinct Riviera model collections.
“In particular, we have a superb program of new model development through which five brand-new models have been announced or have made their world premieres so far this year – including the largest and most luxurious Riviera ever, the majestic new 77 Enclosed Flybridge,” he said.
“New models such as the 575 SUV, 57 Enclosed Flybridge and 52 Enclosed Flybridge designs are proving very popular with boating aficionados around the world, and we are very encouraged by the strong interest.
“Additionally, we recently announced a new Sports Motor Yacht design – for those who wish to spend more time cruising further afield aboard their luxury Riviera – and it is also an immediate success, with six of the 67-foot models purchased off the plan within six weeks of this pioneering new collection being announced.
“We have a further inspiring new model announcement earmarked for the largest boat show in the world at Fort Lauderdale in Florida in November, and although we are remaining tight-lipped at this point we know she will instantly attract a great deal of interest.”
Riviera has recently and in the near future will be showcasing its luxury designs domestically and internationally at:
· Cannes International Yachting Festival in France (8-13 September)
· Newport International Boat Show in the United States (17-20 September)
· Auckland On-Water Boat Show in New Zealand (24-27 September)
· Norwalk International Boat Show (24-27 September)
· Annapolis International Boat Show (8-12 October)
· Mandurah International Boat Show in Western Australia (9-11 October)
· Barcelona International Boat Show in Spain (14-18 October)
· Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (5-9 November).