National Grid and On Point For College Strengthen Two-Decade Relationship to Develop the Next Generation of Workforce

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — National Grid is committed to building a diverse and equitable workforce to solve the energy challenges of the 21st century. The company’s Grid for Good social impact initiative focuses on bringing diversity to the energy sector to ensure that qualified talent is available to meet the customer needs.

As part of Grid for Good, students from On Point For College recently visited the company’s Henry Clay Boulevard training center, where they toured the electric and gas training labs, and learned more about career pathways at the company and what skills and training are needed to pursue a successful clean energy career.

“We deeply value our long-standing partnership with National Grid, whose innovative workforce development program, Grid for Good, benefits On Point students seeking real-world career experience while completing an educational pathway,” said Samuel Rowser, executive director of On Point For College. “In 2023, over 74% of the young people who interacted with On Point Advisors were people of color from underserved communities. The partnership between On Point and National Grid helps break down barriers young people might have in finding a fulfilling and family-supporting career.”

“National Grid’s two-decade relationship with On Point For College has provided the company with multiple highly skilled employees who are doing great things for our customers,” said Alberto Bianchetti, regional director of customer and external affairs. “Our partnership with On Point not only exposes their students to job opportunities with National Grid and other local companies, it makes a difference by supporting social mobility in the communities we serve.”

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The company also provided a $79,000 grant to On Point For College from its Grid for Good social impact initiative to support career services programs that teach employability skills like job search and interview techniques. National Grid and the National Grid Foundation have provided more than $200,000 in grants to On Point For College over the past 20 years.

On Point For College helps traditional and non-traditional students overcome the barriers to higher education, whether it’s a two- or four-year college program, graduate or professional school, a certificate, trade program, or another type of professional training. The organization, based in Syracuse and serving a six-county region in Central New York and Mohawk Valley, supports students from application through graduation and beyond, empowering them to fulfill their dreams and achieve their potential, benefiting both the individual and community.

Grid for Good is National Grid’s global workforce development initiative focusing on building a diverse pipeline of talent from underserved communities by connecting work-ready adults and with up-skilling and job opportunities in the energy industry and within the communities the company serves. The program is instrumental in meeting the goals of National Grid’s Responsible Business Charter, which includes developing skills for the future with a focus on lower-income communities, providing access to development opportunities, providing young people with STEM skills, and helping to grow the future energy workforce needed to enable the energy transition. 

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