National Grid ‘Careers in Energy Week’ Inspires New Workforce, Offers High School Students Peek into Exciting Energy Careers

Company encourages area youth to pursue rewarding futures

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – National Grid is celebrating Careers in Energy Week Oct. 15–19 by inviting area high school students to its Syracuse Learning Center to explore exciting opportunities in the energy industry.

“National Grid is committed to building local talent to become the next generation of the energy workforce,” said Alberto Bianchetti, National Grid regional director of customer and community management for Central New York. “Our partnership with high schools helps students unlock their goals and supports their interest in becoming our region’s future engineers, electric and gas crew members and customer relations professionals.”

Launched in 2010 by the Center for Energy Workforce Development, Careers in Energy Week is a national effort to increase awareness about energy careers and help the industry develop a qualified and diverse workforce. National Grid has long supported STEM education and pipeline programs to attract new employees.

Over 100 area students from Westhill High School, the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, and Solvay High School toured the company’s Syracuse Learning Center, rotating through four stations: electric operations, gas operations, customer metering, and an electric live line demonstration. Students heard from New York State Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli about STEM education and the importance of staying in school. Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid vice president of New York, shared her insights on the many opportunities to succeed at National Grid and encouraged students to “get geeked-up about STEM. The future starts with you.”

Students also attended a career fair hosted by National Grid employees, where they learned about various aspects of working at an international energy company. National Grid executives and employees also shared their own experiences in the field and the fulfilling careers they have found in the energy space.

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 1,600 employees in 2017.