Suppliers & Contractors
PARTNERING WITH US: LOCAL SUPPLIERS AND CONTRACTORS
At Spark Renewables, we are committed to supporting the communities we become a part of. This includes working with local suppliers and contractors wherever possible, to provide services and support to our projects, from initial development stages, right through to operational support and maintenance.
We connect with local contractors as soon as we begin the consultation phase for our proposed projects. We maintain a strong local presence from the beginning, and we always welcome local contractors reaching out and connecting with us so we can discuss how they can be involved.
Our aim at all times is to maximise the benefit of our projects for local communities, and we are proud of our track record of not just engaging local suppliers and contractors, but also hiring and training local workers, embedding long-term employable skills in the communities that we operate in.
Case study: Bomen Solar Farm Construction
During the construction of our Bomen Solar Farm, near Wagga Wagga in NSW, 78% of the mechanical workforce were locally sourced, with 25% identifying as Aboriginal.
During construction, a successful 'Women in Solar' program was run on site, allowing female workers, some of whom had faced barriers to employment, to gain jobs and training in the growing renewable energy industry (see case study below).
Since becoming operational in mid-2020, Bomen Solar Farm has continued to support the engagement of a local workforce to conduct operation and maintenance activities on site.
If you are a supplier or contractor local to any of our projects, we would welcome you getting in touch here to register your interest in suppling goods or services to us.
"Women in Solar" program
We support efforts to combat traditional barriers to roles in the industry for those typically underrepresented.
During the construction of our Bomen Solar Farm, Beon Energy Solutions, and Bomen Solar Farm’s EPC Contractor, partnered with Chandler Macleod to implement the "Women in Solar" program to encourage women to work in the construction of large-scale solar farms.
As a part of this program, 12 local women from a range of diverse backgrounds undertook a four-week electrical training course, finishing the program qualified to install solar panels.
The program targeted those facing known barriers to employment including lack of formal education, or sole child-caring responsibilities. The majority of participants continue to work for the company or in the wider solar industry and Beon is continuing its community employment program.