About Train & Retain
Building better workforce outcomes.
Train & Retain is a Western Australian workforce business focused on apprenticeships, traineeships, trades, recruitment and workforce support.
Who We Are
Built around people and industry.
Train & Retain is a Western Australian workforce business established in 2020, built around recruitment and workforce support for the construction and trades industry. Our team works with apprentices and trainees, tradespeople and labour hire workers, and the businesses that rely on them.
We don’t just place people and step away. Train & Retain’s programs are built on mentoring and management that continues throughout the placement — helping people understand what’s expected in the workplace and develop the skills, attitudes and behaviour employers are looking for.
It’s an approach that’s helped businesses across WA achieve stronger completion and retention rates than recruitment alone.
How We’ve Grown
How we’ve grown with WA’s workforce.
Train & Retain started with a single focus: supporting apprentices and trainees through their journey. As the workforce needs of our clients grew, so did we.
01
Apprentices & Trainees
Where it started: recruiting, mentoring and managing apprentices and trainees through their qualification.
02
Labour Hire
An expanded capability: flexible workforce support across construction trades, trade assistants and labourers.
03
Recruitment Only
An additional model: a standalone recruitment service for businesses that just need the right person, sourced and shortlisted.
Same team, same standards — just more ways to support the workforce our clients need.
Industry Credibility
Recognised industry-wide.
6 Industry Awards
And counting.
2025 Excellence in Training Winner
Swan Chamber.
2026 Excellence in Training Winner
Swan Chamber.
MATES in Construction Partner
Since August 2022.
We coordinate MATES’ General Awareness, Connector and ASIST mental health training for apprentices, trainees and the wider workforce.
Proud training partner of:
I have worked with Steve Thomas for the past 4 years. Steve was an Apprentice Manager working with apprentices employed on Hanssen Construction sites across Perth. Steve went way over and above in his commitment and dedication to each apprentice he was responsible for.
CB
Chris Bown
Owner, Thrive Training Pty Ltd
I have worked with Steve for numerous years in his role as an Apprentice Mentor. It’s clear that Steve’s passion lies in developing, supporting and mentoring the future leaders of our industry.
DM
Damien McVeigh
Senior Field Officer, MATES in Construction
Meet the Team
Steve Thomas
Director
With over 30 years in the construction industry, Steve brings first-hand experience to Train & Retain — including as a former Apprentice of the Year himself during his own bricklaying apprenticeship.
He’s trained, mentored and managed apprentices and trainees throughout his career, including as a Field Officer, Apprentice Consultant and Apprentice Manager for group training organisations, and running his own bricklaying company. Steve’s focus is mentoring and developing the next generation of tradespeople, with a strong emphasis on leadership and workplace culture.
The Train & Retain team on site.