Bowhill Engineering wins at SA Training Awards
A Murraylands company has been recognised for its excellence in training employees.
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Murraylands company Bowhill Engineering is celebrating being named small employer of the year at the 2025 South Australian Training Awards.
The engineering firm currently has 15 apprentices, and more than 44 apprentices and trainees have completed their learning journey with Bowhill.
Senior tradespeople mentor junior staff, and new employees are supported by a dedicated apprentice leadership team.
CEO Jodie Hawkes said the award meant a great deal to both their team and community.
"For Bowhill, it’s not about being the biggest – it’s about doing meaningful work that helps people and communities grow," she said.
"It felt like a sanity check that we’re on the right path – that all the effort we’re putting into building our future workforce, supporting apprentices and creating opportunities for regional people is paying off."
The award was intended to recognise a small enterprise that has achieved excellence in the provision of nationally recognised training for its employees.
"It was incredibly rewarding, not in a pop-the-champagne sense, but more like a moment of reassurance," Ms Hawkes said.
"We combine hands-on learning with innovation, from advanced robotic welding to leadership and wellbeing programs, (to) developing both technical and personal skills."
It was not easy to recruit and retain skilled people in regional areas, she said.
In fact, the company is currently looking for more people to be a part of their team, especially after the opening of their new workshop earlier in the year.
"This award isn’t just for Bowhill Engineering, it’s for our apprentices, our team, and our community," Ms Hawkes said.
"It proves that regional South Australia can lead in training, innovation, and excellence."
- More information: skillscommission.sa.gov.au.
