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Bruce Duff-Director, Christine Greentree – MEGT Representative, Andrew Dwyer - Director, Sam Donelan – Apprentice & Member for the Riverina Kay Hull. Photo by Freeswimmers

RIC Electrics has been awarded the coveted Ministers Award for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices for the Riverina.  The coveted award was received by RIC Electrics at an awards night held in the great hall of parliament house on Tuesday the 18th August 2009.  The award recognises RIC Electrics for its 30 years of training.

From its humble beginnings in the garage of founder Colin Duff, RIC Electrics has grown to employ 35 people, including 12 Australian Apprentices.

Colin began the business 30 years ago and later his brother, Bruce, joined him in 1982, they expanded the business to provide a full range of electrical contracting services. In early 2009, Adrian Burton and Andrew Dwyer became shareholders in the company.

RIC Electrics is one of the largest employers of Australian Apprentices in the region, with close to 100 having completed training.

‘RIC Electrics is the employer of choice in the electrical industry in the Riverina,’ says Chris Greentree from the Riverina MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre.

‘They are worthy of this accolade because of the support, retention, and professional development for all their staff.’

Colin believes training is crucial to their success.  ‘All trade contractors have a responsibility to train apprentices for the future, just as a tradesman gave them an opportunity to gain a trade by training them,’ Colin says.

‘RIC Electrics takes this responsibility seriously. Training apprentices is the best and most sustainable means of preventing a further skills shortage in the future.’

Bruce says training increases retention and adds value to the business.

Christine Greentree MEGT Representative, Andrew Dwyer - Director, Bruce Duff - Director and Australian Apprentice Sam Donelan. Photo by Freeswimmer

‘We endeavour to inspire our staff to undertake training, be it an apprenticeship or traineeship, or further post-trade training to gain further qualifications,’ he says.

‘This in turn enhances the skill base of the company, and the employee’s career prospects.’

The training opportunities at RIC Electrics give employees the chance to advance in their career. In the management area, this could include taking on more responsibility in project management and planning, supervising worksite teams, or gaining experience in another division, such as communications and data, controls and automation and switchboard manufacture.

The company occasionally offers the experience of working overseas and interstate.

RIC Electrics is a strong supporter of mid-career and mature-age Australian Apprenticeships, and employs four Australian Apprentices who have changed career direction. It recommends the stability and life experience mature-age Australian Apprentices bring to the workplace.

‘Mature apprentices understand the opportunity of gaining a trade qualification and commit to that opportunity. Mature apprentices also inspire the younger apprentices to achieve by example,’ Colin says.

Chris agrees. ‘Recently, one of their mature-age apprentices won a Ben Chifley scholarship. He said, “I love getting up every day and going to work”. For someone to feel that way about the company they work for just says every thing,’ she says.

The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Andrew Dwyer – Director & Australian Apprentice Sam Donelan. Photo by Freeswimmers