Electronic & Electrical Solutions

Zac Soden, an Electronic Engineer by trade and Managing Director of Electronic and Electrical Solutions, has been involved in the Talent Accelerate program, taking on a participant in an electronic assembly technician role. Despite a rapid internship and onboarding process, Zac and his team embraced the program fully, investing in the process to ensure the young person had everything they needed to get started with confidence.

Case Study

“The internship itself has gone very smoothly,” says Zac. “The intern has been fantastic: he has a very good work ethic and was keen to learn new skills.” The young person gained practical experience with components on circuit boards, assembly of circuit boards into enclosures, as well as wiring and testing tasks.

It’s these real-world experiences and exposure to the workplace that Talent Accelerate is all about. With many young people today unsure of what they want to do and where their skills lie, the program offers the kind of insight you only gain on the job.

Reflecting on his experience, Zac believes the program has been insightful. “It has opened our eyes that there are some high-quality candidates out there. I consider internships to be a type of community service: whilst the labour may be unpaid, there is still a lot of work inducting and training the intern, so from a purely financial perspective it’s a net neutral. But the benefit for the intern to get a taste of an industry they’re interested in is massive,” Zac adds.

As the gap between education and industry widens, experiences like those offered by Talent Accelerate are invaluable. Bringing theory and practical skills together while exposing young people to real-world opportunities helps strengthen communities and industries alike.

“It’s imperative that young people get exposure to all of the interesting industries and careers right on their doorstep,” says Zac. “Especially for such important industries as manufacturing! It’s great that the Talent Accelerate program is able to help with this.”

By fostering connections between education and industry, programs like Talent Accelerate are helping shape the future workforce, offering young people a valuable head start in their careers.

Q&A

Can you tell us the name of your organisation?

Electronic & Electrical Solutions

Can you describe the work placement/job role you offered to young person/s through the Talent Accelerate program?

The role was that of an electronics assembly technician. This involves assembly of components on circuit boards, assembly of circuit boards into enclosures, wiring and testing tasks.

What was your experience working with Groei Education and the young people involved in the program?

We were approached quite late for the intern to get started but despite some initial chaos the internship itself has gone very smoothly. The intern himself has been fantastic: he has a very good work ethic and was keen to learn new skills.

What are some key insights or skills you’ve gained from working with the young people in the program?

It has opened our eyes that there are some high quality candidates out there.

Have you implemented or plan to implement any new strategies or practices as a result of your involvement in Talent Accelerate?

Not at this stage.

What kind of impact have you seen in the young people you’ve worked with, both in terms of their development and their contribution to your business?

I consider internships to be a type of community service: whilst the labour may be unpaid there is still a lot of work inducting and training the intern so from a purely financial perspective it's a net neutral. But the benefit for the intern to get a taste of an industry they're interested in is massive.

How has Talent Accelerate helped to bridge the gap between the skills young people are learning and the needs of your business/industry?

It's imperative that young people get exposure to all of the interesting industries and careers right on their doorstep. Especially for such important industries as manufacturing! It's great that the Talent Accelerate program is able to help with this.

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