Ergon Energy provides more apprenticeships for regional Queensland

Ergon Energy will recruit a further 59 apprentices across Queensland in coming months to ensure it trains sufficient skilled staff to deliver the network improvements required to keep pace with the growth in regional areas.

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said advertisements have gone out for the 2008 apprenticeship intake, while additional traineeships would be advertised next month.

"Ergon Energy continues to invest in the future of Queensland by hiring and training record numbers of apprentices and field staff to meet the challenges of the fastest growing state in Australia,” Mr Wilson said.

“The new apprentices will join a rapidly growing industry that is experiencing an international shortage of qualified electrical engineers and technical staff.

"Without apprenticeship programs like Ergon Energy’s, the energy industry simply cannot continue to operate.

"Apprentices are vital to renewing any industry workforce.

“In recent years, Ergon Energy has increased its apprentice intake to address an ageing workforce and skills shortages and now has 369 apprentices indentured," he said.

Mr Wilson said he hoped to see a huge response from regional Queensland for the apprentice positions.

“Typically, many of the apprentices are from, and based in, the smaller towns of regional Queensland,” Mr Wilson said.

“This means they don’t have to leave their homes to find work and they can learn valuable skills in a good, solid trade," he said.

Mr Wilson said 99 percent of the people who begin Ergon Energy apprenticeships complete them and, of these people, to date 98 percent remain with the company after trade-specific training.

Chief Executive Tony Bellas said Ergon Energy recognised there was significant competition for skilled workers in the electrical industry, but had positioned itself as a preferred employer in regional Queensland and was confident of again attracting top quality candidates for the apprenticeships.

“We are in the process of finalising our resourcing needs for the 2007-2008 year,” Mr Bellas said.

“Detailed planning to determine final position types and locations has been undertaken, and includes growth across most trades.”

Mr Bellas said that in recent years, Ergon Energy received almost 1600 applications for about 60 apprenticeship vacancies.

"This means less than 5 percent of applicants are successful in gaining positions, which allows Ergon Energy to recruit the best of the best," he said.

Mr Bellas said the training offered opened opportunities for electrical and other careers and developed the skills necessary to deliver essential services to the communities of regional Queensland.

“These young apprentices and the additional staff we're going to need represent a significant investment in the future by Ergon Energy,” he said.

“The company is serious about building and supporting regional Queensland and jobs will be offered in a range of roles, including power line and substation workers, designers and support staff.

“The specialist traineeships will be offered in the important disciplines of lines and substation design.

“We have a vast territory covering 97 percent of Queensland and it’s important that we have the skilled workforce to provide service to our customers,” he said.

The new apprentices will be based at Ergon Energy depots in Thursday Island, Cooktown, Mossman, Cairns, Mareeba, Atherton, Ravenshoe, Ingham, Townsville, Cloncurry, Charters Towers, Home Hill, Bowen, Mackay, Claremont, Longreach, Emerald, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Kingaroy, Chinchilla, Dalby, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Warwick and Stanthorpe.

Information about the apprenticeships is also available online on Ergon Energy’s website, <ergon.com.au>.

Media enquiries: Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332