National Grid Launches Fall Workforce Development Academies to Grow and Diversify Clean Energy Labor Force

WALTHAM, MA – Building on the success of its Clean Energy Academy pilots this past spring and summer, National Grid today announced the launch of the Company’s Fall Workforce Development initiative, which spans multiple generations from middle school age through work-ready adults.

This initiative leverages strategic partnerships and collaborations and includes higher and secondary education institutions and community-based organizations serving historically underrepresented and marginalized groups and communities. The effort seeks to close critical opportunity gaps and build a sustainable clean energy workforce representative of the communities served by National Grid.

Trainees will be introduced to careers in the energy industry through interactive, hands-on sessions and professional development opportunities that foster the creation of connections and provide training in high-demand, high-value industry skills. The program features four academies to facilitate these opportunities:

• Energy Infrastructure Academy for work-ready adults
• Clean Energy Careers Academy for college students
• Clean Energy Tech Academy for students in traditional and vocational-technical high schools
• Clean Energy STEM Academy for middle school students 
   

“We are committed to ensuring the clean energy transition is thoughtfully implemented and does not perpetuate historic injustices,” said Amanda Downey, Vice President of Strategy Development & Partnerships, National Grid, New England. “Our Clean Energy Academies focus on exposure to STEM and energy careers, and access [to energy professionals], the opportunity to change the trajectory of one’s life. These are the things that make a difference. Besides, the studies and reports are clear: The way we reach the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals is by attracting, training, and supporting diverse individuals to meet the talent pool demand.”

Since the initiative’s successful pilots, it has engaged 245 trainees across all age categories, with 22 men and women, including engineers, hired as full-time employees by National Grid or another energy industry company upon successful completion of the Clean Energy Careers Academy or Energy Infrastructure Academy.

National Grid has partnered with three higher learning institutions in the Clean Energy Careers Academy, including Franklin Cummings Tech, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts - Boston. In addition, the Company has partnered with Boston Green Academy, Dearborn STEM Academy, and Madison Park Vocational Technical High School, all of which are in Boston, and the Worcester Vocational Technical High School and Learning First Charter Public School in Worcester as program partners for the Clean Energy Tech and STEM Academies.