A new collaboration between Endeavour Energy and Thomson Bridge will address a skills gap in New South Wales’ energy and infrastructure sectors by delivering essential safety and skills training to workers in the NSW energy and infrastructure sectors.
Commencing this July, workers and contractors who are involved in developing, operating and maintaining electrically significant infrastructure will have access to short courses and training at Endeavour Energy’s state-of-the-art training facility in Hoxton Park, to gain the qualifications essential for its work.
Delivered by Australia’s leading Registered Training Operator (RTO) for the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI), Thomson Bridge, the training aims to build the necessary skills to support the NSW Government’s significant pipeline of new energy infrastructure.
This includes the regional Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), and other critical infrastructure including transmission lines, rail networks and the growing pipeline of infrastructure required for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Endeavour Energy General Manager, Andrew Pitman, said the partnership seeks to address anticipated workforce skills shortages and aims to deliver a highly skilled and adaptable workforce ready for the future.
“Endeavour Energy is thrilled to partner with Thomson Bridge to lead the way in training the workforce of the future,“ Mr Pitman said.
“As the electricity network that builds, maintains and supplies power to over 2.6 million people living and working in some of the fastest growing regions of NSW, we are committed to supporting the future workforce required to deliver a renewable and more sustainable energy future.
“Critical to the success of these transformational projects is teaching workers and contractors to safely build, operate and maintain electrically significant infrastructure.“
Thomson Bridge’s Managing Director, Lisa Parkinson, said the training will cater for new contractors entering the industry as well as experienced workers transitioning their career paths.
“Our collaboration with Endeavour Energy will create best in breed skills and thinking and will be agile and responsive to industry needs with programs introduced based on the demand for new and essential skills,“ Ms Parkinson said.
“The first courses available will include high voltage operations, cable jointing and basic safety training for wind farm access. We also see a need to offer full qualification pathways for new and experienced workers in overhead powerline qualifications for electricity and rail networks.”
Key sectors to benefit from this initiative include distribution and transmission networks, renewable energy assets, light and heavy rail networks, together with heavy industry and utilities that operate high voltage plants to perform their business, such as airports, data centres, and water utilities.
