Pioneering Skills Acquisition & Development in Mining & Industrial Services since 2005

Blue Tongue provides workforce crews in mechanical & electrical to mining and industrial services.

Through strategic Group Training, we are the true pioneers of up-skilling and building a bridge for people to enter into mobile plant maintenance in mining.

We have also led the way for 20 years in acquiring and managing highly skilled international technicians to live and work long term in the Australian mining sector. In 2024, we started our enterprise RTO to support the Advanced Group Training projects we enter into to, which helps our clients build workforce capability.

Blue Tongue is global. We currently have technicians being trained and working in Canada, and we also have Group Training projects being developed in PNG.

Our results speak for themselves

International Hiring of specialist heavy mechanics started in 2005. We have not stopped, and we keep learning and evolving.

Since 2005, we have sourced, hired and managed more than 900 specialist heavy mechanics from overseas to fill specialist roles in Australian mining.

Since 2010, 81% of the specialist tradespeople from overseas that we employ and manage live and work in Australia complete 3 years with Blue Tongue and go on to work in the industry.

90% of all of the specialist tradespeople we have hired to live and work in Australia end up getting Permanent Residency.

93% of all local Australians that we hire and up-skill as part of our group training as a mature age apprentice complete the 15-24 month employment with Blue Tongue and gain a second formal qualification in the exact area and job we designed.

Up-Skilling started in 2010 – We are pioneering a new way forward for the mining industry

Blue Tongue piloted the concept of project up-skilling in Australia in 2010. It had not been done in the industry by anyone. It was not even a term used then! We went on to hire and up-skill 1000+ LV mechanics to work in heavy mobile plant in mining.

It was so successful because we “built the bridge” between the candidate and the employer, who were both looking to engage, but neither was willing to invest in training. This changed the shape of thinking in how to acquire and invest in people with related skills and the right attitude.

The secret to our success in getting results for our clients was that we took on employment risk and cost. The skills mapping, recruiting the right people, and putting together the unique training to get the new person ready to start. This meant a huge training block before they even started on-site. We also hired people who did not get paid for the first block of training. This was our investment in making it work for our clients.

All of these things tied together, and the results were groundbreaking as far as new talent entering into an area where skills shortages were so much of a pressing issue.

Our tried and tested upskilling model boasts a 93% retention rate of all those we hire to work.

The Blue Tongue Story

Pioneering Skills Acquisition & Development in Mining & Industrial Services since 2005

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