Riviera Academy of Excellence

The Gold Coast is a boat lover’s paradise with 52km of sparkling, world-regarded coastline and an incredible 260km of navigable tidal waterways, 9 times more than in Venice, Italy.

This abundance of natural and manmade waterways impelled the creation and growth of a strong marine industry and in recent years the city has emerged as the leading marine industry cluster in the Southern Hemisphere.

Not surprisingly the Gold Coast is now home to the largest number of specialised workers in the boatbuilding industry in Australia, with particular expertise in recreational and luxury crafts.

One of the many companies making a mark on the global stage is Riviera Australia , which is arguably Australia’s premium luxury motor yacht builder, and the company is taking massive strides to ensure its future, as well as the industry.

Headquartered at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct in the northern suburb of Coomera, Riviera has opened its own state-of-the-art training centre, The Riviera Academy of Excellence.

Starting life in Sydney in 1980 before quickly making the clever decision to relocate to the Gold Coast, Riviera is now considered one of the world’s leading builders of luxury motor yachts. The 6000 luxury motor yachts that the company has manufactured are now cruising the great waterways of the world.

With its products ranging in size from 39 to 78 feet, Riviera exports more than 60% of the yachts that they manufacturer through a global network of dealers.

A two-time winner of the Gold Coast Business of the Year, the company now boasts the largest luxury yacht building facility in the Southern Hemisphere and the new Riviera Academy of Excellence is based within this impressive 16.8ha Gold Coast facility fronting the Coomera River.

The training centre is a 680m2 state-of-the-art facility comprising of two fully operational workshops, a specially designed drafting room, learning rooms and conference room facilities. The Academy has partnered with Milwaukee, a global leader of professional tools, to provide the latest equipment for use by the apprentices, including the most modern air filtration system to ensure the centre remains dust free.

The academy allows the motor yacht builder to train, in partnership with Major Training Group, their 150 apprentices onsite.

The centre was officially opened this year and saw 52 new apprentices welcomed – 27 school based and 25 full time apprentices – for what is the biggest training intake in the company’s history.

The training centre now provides education and hands-on experience for 10 individual trades, covering Marine Craft Construction, Composites, Cabinetmaking, Diesel Fitting, Fabrication, Electrical, Timber Composites Machining, French Polishing and Upholstery.?

The students will have the advantage of learning from the lessons the 950-strong Riviera workforce has learnt during more than 44 years of operations and the building of over 6000 luxury motor yachts.

The opening of the training facility was a proud moment for Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst, who bought the company in March 2012.

Mr Longhurst, who is a qualified builder and joiner by trade, has always had strong family links to the marine industry.

His late father John Longhurst, who built Dreamworld and owned Logan Hyperdome, launched the Sydney-based Pride Boats, which flourished and went on to become the largest builder of fibreglass pleasure craft in the southern hemisphere. ?Pride Boats built thousands of boats for more than a decade, before the business was sold to the owners of one of Pride’s largest dealerships.

Now Rodney Longhurst, at the helm of Riviera, has created the opportunity to pass on the wisdom, knowledge and expertise to a new generation of boat builders.

“I’m exceptionally proud to be helping mentor our talented apprentices and giving them such a great opportunity – it’s immensely rewarding for me, personally, to see our apprentices develop into such accomplished mature adults, with world leading skills,” Mr Longhurst said.

“Our significant investment in our Academy reflects our investment in all our 950-strong team. ?We want each person at Riviera to be the best they can be.

“So many of our senior managers and tradespeople have completed their apprenticeships here, highlighting the rewarding and long-term career pathway that we offer.”

Riviera Apprentice and Training Manager Keira Badke said the background of the new apprentices were increasingly diverse and the Riviera class of 2024 included 12 young women.

“Our holistic training program offers strong support for our apprentices where we teach their chosen trade skills alongside coaching life skills to help nurture world-class people that will help build our world-class motor yachts,’’ said Ms Badke.

“They really are the master craftsmen and women of the future and from their very first day with Riviera we want our apprentices to know that we will do all we can to help them be the best they can be.”

Riviera is now responsible for training over 400 tradespeople through its award-winning apprenticeship program over the past 30 years, which involves partnerships with 37 schools in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Fittingly the Academy was officially opened by senior training instructors Darren Kearns and Instructor Justin Leigh-Smith, who both completed their apprenticeships in 1996 in marine craft construction with Justin serving his apprenticeship with Riviera.

Both also have had long careers with Riviera, with Darren serving over 18 years and Justin 30 years.

Within the facility there are two ‘Halls of Fame’ recognising Riviera’s past graduated apprentices who now hold key roles within the company and an impressive showcase of Riviera’s national and international awards for excellence.

The company is now in the process of selecting students for 2025 and for the first time Riviera will offer traineeships in supply chain operations and business administration.

As part of the City of Gold Coast’s annual Gold Coast Business Week, Riviera will open the doors of The Riviera Academy of Excellence to the general public.

The open day, to be held on Monday 14 October , will showcase the training facility and allow attendees to engage with industry experts and explore how Riviera is pioneering new standards in vocational training.

Visitors will also hear from Mr Longhurst and leaders from his team as they explain how they are driving innovation and developing the next generation of marine industry professionals.

Find out more about the City of Gold Coast business support and attraction programs here.