This award recognises large businesses and enterprises that have achieved excellence in the provision of nationally recognised training to their employees.
Meet the finalists in the Large Employer of the Year category for the 2026 South Australian Training Awards – truly inspiring organisations!
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Leading defence and security company BAE Systems Australia is delivering advanced technologies across air, maritime, land and cyber domains. In South Australia, it plays a key role in major national programs, including the Hunter Class Frigate build and the AUKUS submarine initiative.
Training is embedded across the employee lifecycle at BAE Systems Australia, from early careers through to specialist and leadership roles, with access to more than 650 courses and nationally recognised qualifications.
A blended learning model integrates structured on‑the‑job experience with formal training, ensuring skills are immediately applied in complex, high‑risk environments.
Early careers pathways—including apprenticeships, traineeships and graduate programs—are central to building long‑term capability, particularly for large‑scale naval shipbuilding and defence projects.
This sustained investment strengthens workforce readiness while supporting career progression and a culture of continuous learning, contributing to a skilled and resilient defence industry workforce in South Australia.
World‑leading resources company BHP has major operations across South Australia’s copper province. Training is embedded across its operations as a core driver of safety, performance and long‑term workforce capability.
Every employee participates in training each year, supported by a comprehensive framework spanning apprenticeships, traineeships, leadership programs and technical development. A standout and very popular initiative is BHP’s underground “School of Rock” training environment, where workers build capability through immersive, scenario‑based learning that closely reflects real mining conditions.
This structured blend of classroom, digital, simulation and on‑the‑job learning delivers measurable outcomes, including completion and retention rates exceeding 95 per cent. Clear pathways from entry‑level roles through to leadership support long‑term careers, alongside a strong focus on inclusion.
By integrating training into workforce planning and adopting innovative delivery methods, BHP continues to build a highly capable and future‑ready workforce for South Australia.
One of Australasia’s largest locally owned technology companies, Datacom delivers digital, IT and customer experience services to government and industry. In South Australia, the company employs more than 800 people and has established a strong reputation for developing talent through structured training and career pathways.
Training is embedded from day one, with employees supported to complete nationally recognised qualifications alongside their work. A dedicated on‑site Learning Hub and simulated training environments allow staff to practise real customer scenarios and system interactions before moving to live operations.
Datacom’s workforce development strategy spans pre-employment through to leadership, with around 20 per cent of staff engaged in formal programs at any given time.
This approach has delivered strong outcomes, including high uptake of training, significant internal promotion rates and improved retention, positioning Datacom as a major contributor to South Australia’s growing technology workforce.
Mayfield Industries, in collaboration with Ai Group ATC, has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to workforce development and apprenticeship training in South Australia. For more than 20 years, the partnership has supported over 90 apprentices to successfully complete their trade qualifications. Today, a further 30 apprentices are actively undertaking their training, with many more having benefited from employment, mentoring and skills development opportunities through the program.
A leading Australian manufacturer of critical electrical infrastructure, Mayfield Industries delivers innovative solutions for industries including renewable energy, mining, defence, data centres and critical infrastructure.
Working closely with Ai Group ATC and TAFE SA, it actively contributes to the design and continuous improvement of training and assessment programs, ensuring apprentices develop skills aligned with current industry practices, emerging technologies and evolving safety standards. This collaborative approach continues to strengthen workforce capability and support the future of Australian manufacturing.