Skills built here.
For more than 20 years, ADCO has invested in recruiting, training and developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
It is a long-term commitment — made through changing markets, labour shortages and increasing competition for qualified electricians. The result is more than a successful apprenticeship program. It is a skilled workforce, a leadership pipeline and a lasting contribution to our industry.
More than 1,000 training contracts.
ADCO Electrics’ available electronic records date back to 2003 and cover 1,014 formal training contracts involving 866 people.
Those records include 412 successful completions across electrical and other training categories. Together with Kolbang, ADCO has now supported 326 completed electrical apprenticeships, with a further 152 electrical apprentices actively progressing through their training.
These numbers represent thousands of hours of practical experience, supervision, mentoring and formal study — but their real value is found in the careers they have created.
From first year to leadership.
An apprenticeship at ADCO can be the beginning of an entire career.
The program has produced qualified electricians, supervisors, project leaders, operations managers and general managers. Every current General Manager and Operations Manager within ADCO Electrics began their journey through our apprenticeship program.
People developed within the program have also gone on to support specialist businesses and operations across our broader group, carrying with them ADCO’s culture, technical standards and commitment to developing others.
This ability to create genuine pathways helps our people continue to grow without having to leave the organisation that invested in them.
Learning beyond the electrical trade.
Our commitment to training extends beyond a traditional electrical apprenticeship.
Ninety-five people in our records have undertaken more than one distinct qualification, building capability across areas including:
- Data and communications
- Leadership and management
- Civil and trenchless construction
- Engineering
- Business and supply chain
- Other specialist technical fields
These broader pathways give our people opportunities to develop new skills, move into specialist work and prepare for future leadership roles.
Creating opportunity through Kolbang.
Through Kolbang, our Indigenous employment and training company, we are helping create sustainable career pathways for Indigenous Australians while developing skills needed across Western Australian industry.
Kolbang has supported apprenticeships and formal training in electrical, civil construction, data and voice, business, engineering and supply chain disciplines.
The objective is not simply to offer a job. It is to provide skills, experience and opportunities that can support a lasting career.
Growing the workforce — not just competing for it.
Electrical skills are in demand across residential construction, commercial projects, mining, resources, data centres, renewables and other specialist industries.
ADCO’s response has been consistent: invest at the beginning of the workforce pipeline and continue developing people throughout their careers.
Employing an apprentice means providing years of supervision, practical training, study support and mentoring. It requires businesses to invest ahead of demand and accept that the benefit may not be immediate.
We believe that investment is essential. Without businesses prepared to employ and develop first-year apprentices, the skilled workforce every sector relies upon cannot continue to grow.
Building a sustainable industry together.
Developing the future workforce is a shared responsibility.
Employers must continue recruiting and training. Builders and principal contractors can support that investment by recognising workforce development, apprentice numbers, supervision, retention and demonstrated delivery capacity when awarding work.
Major industries that depend on qualified tradespeople also have an important role to play in employing and developing apprentices from their first year.
When clients partner with businesses that genuinely train people, they are supporting more than the delivery of an individual project. They are helping develop the workforce that will deliver projects for years to come.
No shortcut. Just long-term investment in people.
There is no secret behind ADCO’s apprenticeship success. It comes from consistently recruiting, training, mentoring and creating opportunities — year after year. That commitment has built our workforce, developed our leaders and helped strengthen the wider electrical and construction industries. It is something we are enormously proud of — and something we intend to keep building.
Start your career at ADCO.
Learn your trade, expand your skills and build a career with one of Western Australia’s most experienced apprenticeship employers.