Supporting the Gateway Programme - Investing in Future Electricians
At AB Electrical, one of our annual commitments is to actively participate in the Gateway Programme, a valuable initiative for Year 11 – 13 students aiming to explore career opportunities while pursuing their NCEA studies.
Through this programme, students spend a day each week shadowing our tradesmen, gaining firsthand experience of the electrician’s role. This six-week immersion provides crucial insights into the profession and helps students determine if they wish to pursue a career in electrical work.
This year, we are delighted to host Gateway students from prestigious schools such as Westlake Girls, Rangitoto College, Long Bay College, and Westlake Boys. Of particular note, we warmly welcomed two female students who showed keen interest in becoming electricians. They benefited greatly from insights shared by Opal, a recently qualified as an Electrical Inspector.
Three students have already completed their placements, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are passionate about supporting the industry by attracting talented individuals, and Gateway plays a pivotal role in nurturing future electricians.
Below are snapshots of three of our current Gateway participants:
Neva Currie from Westlake Girls
Carla McIntyre from Westlake Girls
Sam Titchener from Long Bay College
These students exemplify our commitment to fostering young talent and ensuring a bright future for the electrical industry.
Neva Currie from Westlake Girls
Carla McIntyre from Westlake Girls
Sam Titchener from Long Bay College
Congratulations Opal - ETCO Apprentice of the Year 2019
The recent ETCO Apprentice of the Year awards was a spectacular evening. The lads took a back seat at the recent ETCO’s, with the two most prestigious apprentice awards both going to outstanding young women. On November 29th, AB Electricals' very own Opal Vickery, was named the recent ETCO Apprentice of the Year, at Rydges Hotel, Auckland.
Opal joined the AB Electrical team as a fully registered tradesman in September 2019. She has quickly proven to be a valuable tradesman making a positive impression with customers and fitting in very well with the team.
The ETCO Apprentice of the Year is an annual award based on nominations from over 700 electrical apprentices and is a much-coveted award within the industry.
AB Electrical is delighted to have Opal join the team as their first female tradesman, and certainly looking for this to be a pathway for other female apprentices or tradesmen to join the AB Electrical team
AB Electrical is proud to support women in the Electrical Industry. If you are thinking about getting into a Trade, consider becoming an Electrician. You can find out more information with ETCO (The Electrical Training Company). They help with training, employment, and placement of electrical apprenticeships.
Becoming an electrician opens so many opportunities and specialty paths that lead to a life-long rewarding career. There are many positions and opportunities. These range from being part of a business at a trade level, through to middle management, engineering roles or owning and running your own business.
Once again, Opal, we are very proud of your achievement, and you are an invaluable member of the team.
