National Grid Salutes its Veteran Employees while Focusing on Attracting More Veterans to Careers in Energy
Waltham, MA (PRWEB) November 08, 2013 -- In recognition of Veteran’s Day, National Grid is highlighting its programs to attract and retain veteran employees, including its participation in Troops to Energy Jobs. Troops to Energy Jobs is an initiative in which National Grid has partnered with five other energy companies across the country, and the Center for Energy Workforce Development, to develop an accelerated process for bringing military veterans into the energy industry workforce nationwide.
“National Grid, along with other electric and gas industries, recognizes that veterans have spent their military careers protecting national security and are, among many things, battle-tested, self-motivated and safety-conscious—traits that translate well into a second career in the utility industry,” said Tom King, National Grid U.S. president. “By hiring veterans into the industry, we are ensuring the continued production and delivery of safe, reliable power to American homes and businesses, and that service members are continuing to protect national security as they work to deliver a product that fuels our lives and powers our economy.”
In recent years National Grid has taken several steps to improve its opportunity for veteran outreach, including creating a dedicated veterans outreach specialist role within the company. This integrated specialist is responsible for veteran recruiting efforts and assists veterans as they transition into civilian positions within the energy field.
“Hiring veterans is a smart business decision. But, beyond that, it’s about pride and opportunity,” said Steven Spaeth, veterans outreach specialist for National Grid who is also a veteran himself. “Our industry has a role to play that is bigger than just hiring—we can help to pave the way for transitioning veterans into civilian jobs. Recognizing and supporting veterans once they are hired is critical to achieving a successful transition as we move our dedicated service members from the front lines to the power lines.”
National Grid also has its own Veteran’s Employee Resource Group (VERG) to help implement the Troops to Energy Jobs national template in all its service territories. This group of 185 members is strongly involved with recruitment and outreach efforts that encompass National Grid’s Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Upstate NY and Downstate NY jurisdictions. The company’s VERG provides ongoing support to veteran employees, assists the Human Resources Department by reviewing resumes for candidates who are veterans, and maintains a visible presence in local communities, including attending career fairs to recruit other veterans.
National Grid works with the Department of Labor in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, at the state level as well as at local One-Stops, in its efforts to recruit veterans. The company also works closely with veterans organizations such as the Office of Veterans Affairs, directing candidates to the Troops to Energy Jobs website for assistance in translating military skills to those needed in energy jobs. The company will often tweet job openings and veteran-themed resources as part of its effort to reach as many veterans in as many different ways as possible.
Added King, “National Grid is incredibly proud of all of our employees and the dedication they bring to their work every day. But Veterans Day reminds us of just how particularly grateful we are for our veteran employees who first chose to serve their country through careers in the military and now continue to serve their communities through their work with us.”
National Grid currently employs over 570 veterans and over 100 reservists across its jurisdictions. Veterans interested in pursuing a career in energy can find out more at http://www.troopstoenergyjobs.com.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up’.
In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.
National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
For more information please visit our website: http://www.nationalgridus.com.
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Christine Milligan, National Grid, +1 781-907-3980, [email protected]
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