Datacom to build $22m IT hub in South Australia

Datacom is building a $22 million IT hub at a South Australian TAFE campus.

The development, which will commence in 2017, is expected to create hundreds of jobs and training opportunities in the IT sector.

The project has secured a $5.3 million investment from the state government's Economic Investment Fund to create career opportunities for young Australians, according to investment and trade minister Martin Hamilton-Smith.

Datacom chief executive Jonathan Ladd said: "South Australia presented an ideal location to expand our local operations due to a willingness from our local partners, TAFE SA, Workskil, SYC, University of Adelaide and the South Australian government to explore innovative business models."

The Tea Tree Gully TAFE campus is currently being refurbished to give space to more than 600 staff.

"The jobs we intend to create through this investment will vary from entry level to specialist and management levels, which will require support from local training, education and recruitment organisations," said Ladd.

South Australia premier Jay Weatherill said: "Today’s announcement that Datacom will set up a major IT hub in Modbury is a massive win for jobs and training in our north eastern suburbs.

"We have been aggressively pursuing businesses like Datacom to set up in Adelaide and take advantage of our low-cost, low-taxation environment."

According to higher education and skills minister Susan Close, TAFE SA will support Datacom’s training needs with a pre and post-employment training program to allow accelerated job creation in the area.

Ladd said: "Our partnership with TAFE SA will ensure the delivery of an innovative training package which will provide our company with a clear training-to-job pathway for potential new employees, and benefit the state economy as a whole."

Datacom is on the CRN MVP list and recently reported revenue of $955 million for the financial year ending in 31 March 2016. The company has added 600 employees in the past year and has a total of 4,661 employees across its 29 locations across Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, the UK and the USA.