Dozens of electrical apprenticeships up for grabs
The state’s electricity distributor is embarking on a major recruitment of apprentices and cadets ahead of an expected surge in demand.
SA Power Networks – one of the state’s largest employers of trainees – is advertising for 69 new powerline and electrical apprentices to start early next year.
The intake of trainees, which already covers apprentices and graduates, will also include a new category – with 10 cadetships up for grabs.
SA Power Networks head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said the company was entering a period of high growth and needed more skilled people.
“We have been a major employer of apprentices and are stepping up our program even further in anticipation of significant additional work in coming years,” he said.
The company says the apprenticeship program develops the next generation of field crew, the graduate intake brings new engineering and digital skills into the business and the cadetship program will train more network program and works managers.
“This is probably the most exciting time in electricity since the expansion of the state’s grid in the 1950s to 70s, which led to the state’s rapid industrialisation,” Roberts said.
“We are leading the world in the shift to green energy and the electricity distribution network we manage is a key part of the transition.
“With about 340,000 homes with solar and 30,000 with batteries, the network is already the biggest source of energy generation in South Australia – a complete turnaround from the one-way network of just a few years ago.
“That and the shift to electric cars, makes for exciting times in electricity distribution.”
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Roberts said the company was about more than “Stobie poles and wires”.
“We’re exploring artificial intelligence, drones, and digitalisation,” he said.
Apprenticeship applications close on September 18, while the company says it will advertise for the 10 cadet positions soon.
