The pilot mentoring program, a first for the electrical industry, is aimed at introducing young electricians under the age of 30 into a wider business culture and networking opportunities. The programme already has 70 registered members, hopes to emulate the success of Club Clipsal, a national 4500 strong membership of electrical contractors.

Damien Cummins, Executive General Manager of Clipsal by Schneider Electric, said that the Crew was the “future of the industry.”

He said Club Clipsal was unlike any other industry body in the electrical industry.

He urged the young sparkies at the launch to no longer look at themselves as tradesmen but as technicians and engineers.

“We do more than install power outlets and pull cable. Today, we deliver solutions whether it be in home automation or data communications solutions to the NBN roll-out. It’s time the industry was recognised for those skills.”

Special Guest mentor Des Stormon, from Stormon Electrical in Brisbane spoke to the Crew Members and urged them to support the Club and make it a success.

“It’s important to have a strong and competitive electrical industry; to have contractors quoting correctly and not themselves out of business. This will make the industry strong for the future.”

Inaugural Crew member, Craig Turner, a 25 year old electrician, just 12 months out of his apprenticeship said that he was looking forward to the networking opportunities that the Clipsal Crew would offer.

“You can learn so much from listening to successful people in the industry. There’s also a lot of information to keep up with.”

Clipsal Crew is hosted by Marcus Capaldo, Club Clipsal Development Manager and Clipsal’s Standardisation Manager, Gary Busbridge. The trial programme is operating in South Australia only and if successful will go national.

Local youth radio station Fresh FM has jumped on board as a major sponsor of the programme, providing hotel accommodation and fitness centre discounts to Clipsal Crew Members.