MOBILE, Ala., (May 21, 2024) Residents with and without experience in shipbuilding, welding, and engineering are invited to attend an Austal hiring event at Bishop State Community College on Saturday, June 1.

Those who already have experience for the hundreds of jobs for which Austal is hiring are able to register online to attend the event at bishopstatepartnerships.com/hiring-event. After registering, residents are prompted to select a time slot between 7 and 11 a.m. on June 1 to be interviewed by Austal’s hiring officials.

Austal has partnered with Bishop State since late February to provide the Set Sail program, a no-cost, three-week training for residents who are interested in positions but have yet to gain the experience.

Those residents are guaranteed an interview with Austal after completing the training, which teaches safety, flux core and gas metal arc welding, blueprint reading, tape measurement and professional employability behaviors.

“We have people in our backyard just waiting for a change,” said Rodney Patrick, Austal USA’s Senior Director of Human Resources.

“Austal has so many jobs and so many opportunities, and we don’t want to search out of state when we have workers right here in Alabama,” Patrick said. “That’s why it’s important to partner with Bishop State for our Set Sail program.”

Over the last three months, nearly 30 residents have attended the training and earned opportunities at Austal.

“Community colleges are the key to companies’ training needs because we’re able to customize the training that’s necessary to help get residents to work,” said Akareem Spears, Bishop State’s Dean of Workforce Development.

“That training could be this three-week class, or a credential or a degree,” he said. “No matter the pathway, Bishop State wants to be sure that all residents have a pathway to get to the career they desire.”

For more information about this program and to sign up for the hiring event, visit bishopstatepartnerships.com/hiring-event or call Dewanda Davis in the Workforce Development Office at 251-662-5400.