- Brighte has announced the two recipients of its Women in Energy Scholarships in Tasmania aimed at supporting the local growing sector.
- Scholarship recipients must be apprentices, have a proven commitment to study and to furthering their knowledge of renewable energy.
- The scholarships are in collaboration with TasTAFE, which runs the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician training.
Brighte, the exclusive administrator of the $50m Energy Saver Loan Scheme (ESLS), is pleased to announce the recipients of its Women in Energy Scholarships in Tasmania aimed at supporting the growth of the local sector, particularly women who have demonstrated a commitment to the industry.
The two scholarships have been awarded in collaboration with TasTAFE, which runs the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician training – a nationally recognised qualification that only accepts apprentices for enrollment.
The Brighte Women in Energy Scholarships are an extension of Brighte’s partnership with the Tasmanian Government and are aimed at supporting the growing local green energy sector. Valued at $3,350, this includes assistance with the costs of the training course and funding for the first year of Clean Energy Council’s accredited solar installer fees.
Launched last November, this year's scholarship recipients are:
- Chey Sullivan from The Contact Group
- Erin Kingston from Derwent Electrical
According to Chey Sullivan, a fourth-year apprentice with The Contact Group, receiving this scholarship is realizing a dream.
“Studying a course in renewable energy was always something that I wanted to pursue. With government mandates and procedures moving toward a cleaner, greener state, I think new energy jobs represent an opportunity to be at the forefront of some of technology's most exciting advancements.”
Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell knows from experience how important it is to create pathways for pioneering women to enhance their career journey as well as those for future generations.
“To meet our ambitious net zero targets, we’re going to need thousands of electricians skilled up to help power the green revolution - and many of those must be women.”
She added: “As a female founder, I know how challenging it can be to sometimes be the only woman in a room. That’s why we’re so committed to increasing female participation in industry through initiatives like this that help build a platform for growth and opportunity.”
In its role in administering the ESLS, Brighte has received over 4100 applications for sustainability upgrades valued at more than $35.1 million. Establishing traineeships and apprenticeships will help build the green workforce - an approach supported by several industry organisations attending last week’s Senate Inquiry into Residential Electrification.
TasTAFE CEO Grant Dreher said TasTAFE was proud to support the Brighte Women in Energy Scholarships and commented that Brighte’s focus on clean energy aligns well with where it sees itself heading alongside both Tasmanian and Australian Government priorities.
“We are starting to see more women taking up apprenticeships in traditional trades, but there is still work to do. We are working with industry and businesses such as Brighte to proactively encourage more women into trades.”
About Brighte
Brighte is on a mission to make sustainability affordable and accessible, offering consumers a fast and easy way to pay for solar, battery, home electrification and energy efficiency.
Brighte has to date helped over 140,000 households get sustainable upgrades, with over 2,300 vendors/installers nationally processing more than $2.1 billion in finance applications.
A purpose-led business supporting the power shift to the home, Brighte financed installations have the capacity to reduce household CO2 emissions by over 1 million tonnes each year, representing over 1000MW of solar generation capacity.
Brighte’s headquarters are in Sydney, Australia.