Record female apprenticeships in 2016

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Ergon Energy has announced its 17-strong female apprentice intake for 2016 – the highest the company has attracted to date.

“Ergon Energy’s ongoing commitment to increasing female participation in the electricity industry through a unique introductory training program, and a keen focus on diversity during recruitment, is showing great results,” acting chief Executive Ros Baker said.

“Furthermore, our innovative program ‘Introduction to the Electricity Supply Industry’, which we developed to encourage more female participation in trades and the industry, had a fantastic response.”

Ms Baker said Ergon’s recruitment approach in recent years had focussed on diversity.

“It’s pleasing to see female participation in what is a traditionally male-dominated industry increasing,” she said.

“Fourteen per cent of our total apprentices are female, which means 36 female apprentices are now working for qualifications as distribution linespersons, electro-technology electricians, and communications/electronics specialists.

“Building on our success, the same diversity recruitment goals we set during the 2016 recruitment campaign will be applied for the next apprentice intake and we’re hopeful of having between 20 and 25 per cent of successful females starting in 2017.”

Ms Baker, who was a Queensland finalist in last year’s Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards said she understood how important it was for women to have opportunities in trades where male participation has traditionally been the norm.

“We encourage the best and brightest young women to seek a career at of Ergon Energy,” Ms Baker said.

“Producing a diverse, highly skilled workforce is vital to the ongoing growth of regional Queensland and Ergon Energy is proud to promote this through its apprenticeship program.”

 

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