NECA finds placements for Watters Electrical apprentices

Eighteen electrical apprentices who were left without a job following the collapse of Watters Electrical are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The National Electrical and Communications Association’s (NECA’s) Victorian training arm found new placements for all eighteen of the apprentices.

Of the 18 apprentices, six were direct employees of Watters Electrical, which was part of the Hastie Group that collapsed in June. The other 12 were NECA Apprenticeships employees on placement with Watters Electrical. Some of the apprentices employed by Watters had only been with the company for three months.

Former Watters apprentices Ben Casey, Michael De Fontenay and Jesse McVeigh.

“It’s excellent, obviously, after being left in the lurch, and not knowing what the future held,” said apprentice Jesse McVeigh. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue my apprenticeship.”

NECA Apprenticeships was able to place the apprentices following talks with electrical contractors who were interested in hosting the apprentices through the organisation.

NECA Apprenticeships involve apprentices being ‘leased’ to electrical contractors. The organisation manages all employment-related processes such as superannuation, taxation, workcover, training and mentoring support, and supplies uniforms and tools. NECA says this enables smaller electrical contracting businesses that may not have the resources to take on an apprentice to do so.

“The closure of Watters Electrical was a big blow to the electrical industry in Melbourne and we’re pleased that we’ve been able to soften the blow by not only finding new host companies for the 12 apprentices we had placed with the company but by also taking on six former Watters Electrical apprentices and placing them with businesses in the Melbourne area,” said Carl Phillips, CEO of the 370° group, of which NECA Apprenticeships is a part.