Training partnership to address industry 'skills gap'

Endeavour Energy and Thomson Bridge have partnered to deliver safety and skills training for workers in the NSW energy and infrastructure sectors. Commencing this month, 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 training facility in Hoxton Park, to gain the qualifications needed for their work.

Delivered by the 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 pipeline of new energy infrastructure including the regional Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and other critical infrastructure including transmission lines, rail networks and the infrastructure required for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Endeavour Energy General Manager Andrew Pitman said the partnership aims to address anticipated workforce shortages and to deliver a skilled and adaptable workforce, ready for the future. Pitman said the partnership with Thomson Bridge is an opportunity to contribute to the development of a skilled workforce for NSW by providing access to a purpose-built training facility for the development of practical powerline, substation and cable jointing skills for the workforce of the future.

“Endeavour Energy is thrilled to partner with Thomson Bridge to lead the way in training the workforce of the future. As the electricity network that builds, maintains and supplies power to over 2.6 million people living and working in the 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,” said Pitman.

Lisa Parkinson, Managing Director of Thomson Bridge, said the training will cater for new contractors entering the industry as well as experienced workers transitioning their career paths. The first courses available will include high-voltage operations, cable jointing and basic safety training for wind farm access. The training courses will also offer full qualification pathways for new and experienced workers in overhead powerline qualifications for electricity and rail networks.

“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. There is also a growing demand from project managers and engineers for practical supervisory-level technical training such as best practice in cable jointing and installation, and for engineering services that support safe high-voltage operations such as arc flash calculations and drafting or reviewing electrical safety rules,” said Parkinson.

Industries that will benefit from this initiative include distribution and transmission networks, renewable energy assets, light and heavy rail networks, and heavy industry and utilities that operate high-voltage plant to perform their business, such as airports, data centres and water utilities.

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