NECA Education & Careers has been named a finalist in two categories at the 2025 Victorian Training Awards:
- Large Training Provider of the Year
- Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development
This rare dual recognition – one for employing apprentices and one for training them – highlights the strength and clarity of NECA Education & Careers (NECA E&C)’ s model, where skills development and workforce readiness are deeply connected.
Chief Executive Officer, Gideon Perrott, said, “This is what you get when you work together. Our entire team, our industry stakeholders, our host employers and our apprentices have all played a part in this – and it’s that collective effort that makes the difference.”
While NECA E&C has a long history of delivering high-quality, industry-specific training, being shortlisted for Large Training Provider of the Year is particularly significant. TAFEs typically dominate this category – and NECA E&C qualifies only due to delivering training through cumulative enrolments that exceed 1,500 students annually.
Gideon continued, “It’s unusual to see a non-TAFE provider shortlisted as a Large Training Provider of the Year – and that speaks volumes. We’ve reached this point not by chasing numbers, but by staying focused on best-in-class quality, industry relevance, and long-term impact.
“Our approach is built on the belief that training and employment alone are not enough. That’s why we invest in the people behind the programs – teachers, apprentice mentors, admin staff and host employers – and in developing future-focused skills that serve both the apprentice and the broader industry.”
Industry-owned and led, with a not-for-profit structure, NECA E&C exists to meet the needs of electrical and communications apprentices and employers. This finalist recognition is an acknowledgement of the impact we’re making – and the standards we’re helping to set.
Stacey Fedden, Head of Workforce Planning and Development at NECA E&C, said, “Supporting trainees and apprentices isn’t just about employment – it’s about creating the right environment for them to learn, grow, and succeed. When we won the Employer Award for Apprenticeship Development last year, it was because we approached apprentice support as a whole-of-business responsibility.”
Stacey continued, “We haven’t stopped. We continually ask ourselves: How can we equip our people with the tools to exceed expectations, make a difference, and set the benchmark for how training and employment are delivered in the industry? This recognition affirms the care and structure we build around every apprentice and trainee, and the way we work alongside employers to shape meaningful careers – not just deliver qualifications.”
In 2024, NECA E&C was invited by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Office for Women, to design and deliver a leadership program specifically for women in electrical apprenticeships. The result was Leading Mates – a contextualised program tailored to women navigating construction sites, typically male-dominated environments, where gaining respect and stepping into leadership can come with additional challenges.
“By the time our women apprentices reach their fourth year, they’re fluent in the electrical language, just like any electrician. But some women still face barriers in connecting with male colleagues, and even more so in earning the recognition and confidence to lead. ‘Leading Mates’ provided them with a toolbox of techniques, strategies, and real-world scenarios to help bridge that gap – empowering them to not only be better apprentices but also stronger leaders in our industry.
“We understand it’s rare to win the same award two years in a row – but we submitted a nomination again because we believe in continuing the work. This isn’t a one-off initiative. It’s part of a much bigger, sustained effort to build inclusive pathways and strengthen leadership capacity across the entire apprenticeship journey,” Stacey said.
NECA E&C was established to respond directly to the skills needs of the electrical and communications industry – and continues to do so by investing in industry-specific training, longstanding employer partnerships, and an unwavering focus on sector-leading outcomes.
Winners will be announced at the 2025 Victorian Training Awards Gala on Friday, 19 September, at Centrepiece, Melbourne Park.
View the full list of finalists: https://www.vic.gov.au/2025-victorian-training-awards-finalists