Pictured: Gateway student, Ben Parrott, (second from left) will WEL Networks Lines Competition team at Annual Connection
Did you know WEL Networks recruits students through the Connexis Gateway Programme? It’s just one of many ways they are seeking to future-proof the industry.
The Connexis Gateway Programme allows senior secondary school students who are interested in a career in trades to step into a business and gain practical work experience.
“There is an ongoing shortage of electrical workers in the distribution area, so ultimately it’s to our benefit to encourage students to get into the industry,” says Bill Doig, Field Development Coach. “WEL is a Trust-owned lines company and has a community focus, hence why we engage like this.” Selected students spend time out in the field with overhead line crews, maintenance
crews and faults technicians to get a feel for the industry.
At the end of the course each trainee receives NCEA credits and a reference toward further job applications.
“We’re currently working with two Hamilton Boys High School students, one of whom has already been offered a line mechanics traineeship with Waipa Networks.”
This year WEL also approached University students to fill an engineering graduate position. It would allow them to work in the industry and progress to a point where they have achieved professional development and have a work portfolio to show when interviewed by the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand for registration as an engineer.
In November Well Network welcomed Luke Johnston who will be with us for two years on a rotating training programme.
Reproduced with permission from the December/January 2017-18 WEL NEWS.
