National Grid Kicks Off Trades Summer Camp, Supports Area Youth

Showcasing exciting trades and energy careers, demonstrations and career fair

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – National Grid kicks off the company’s first-ever Trades Summer Camp, to benefit more than 30 Syracuse City School District high school students. Offered in two sessions, the three-day camp is part of the company’s commitment to STEM education and workforce development.

“National Grid is committed to build local talent to become the next generation of the energy workforce,” said Timothy Graham, National Grid vice president of Customer Meter Services for New York. “Our partnership with the Dunbar Center to offer the Trades Summer Camp is a great example of the type of program we like to support to help high school students consider careers in the trades industry and STEM.”

National Grid employees will share their insights with the students on career opportunities in the fields of gas and electricity delivery. The students will participate in a safety expo and hands-on demonstrations, learning about important electricity and gas safety tips in the home, how meters measure energy, and how natural gas gets to homes. They will also get to explore a National Grid bucket truck.

The students will also learn about trades careers such as plumbing, electricity and carpentry in partnership with Syracuse area minority-owned businesses. The students will participate in field trips to the Fenner Wind Farm and to the IBEW local 43 apprentice training facility in Clay. They will also assemble robots for a robotics competition to be held at the conclusion of the camp.

“We are grateful for the partnership with National Grid to inspire young minds and to take a leadership role to build the future workforce,” said Carol Charles, Dunbar Center executive director. “It takes a community to bridge the gap and improve on how we prepare our children for future success.”

In a workforce of 16,000 employees in the U.S., an estimated 400 National Grid employees – with an average retirement age of 60 – retire each year. The company anticipates that approximately 16 percent of its workforce will retire over the next five years.

In addition to replacing retiring employees, the company actively hires for attrition and growth in its business. National Grid hired an estimated 1,800 employees in 2016.