TRUST Horizon has been helping build a new generation of qualified electrical workers for more than 20 years with a range of scholarships, training courses, and apprenticeship support.

Over the decades, this support has seen numerous young locals go on to establish thriving careers in the electrical industry, including Tom Brennan.

By his last year at Whakatāne High School, he already had a growing interest in engineering. When a high school careers adviser suggested applying for Trust Horizon’s Taster Course, he jumped at the opportunity.

Co-funded by the trust and Connexis, the week-long course in 2006 saw him and nine other year 12 and 13 students gain in-depth insights into the electricity supply industry.

“The course was a great balance of getting out in the field, coupled with theory work where we learnt the fundamentals of the power system,” Mr Brennan said.

“After the week was up, I thought, this looks like an interesting industry to work in, with some really good career opportunities.”

On completing the course, he received the Top Trainee Award.

Then he applied for – and received – scholarships to study electrical engineering at the University of Canterbury, with funding from the trust.

Since graduating university, Mr Brennan’s career has gone from strength to strength.

His first two-and-a-half years in the industry were spent in Tauranga at engineering consulting company, Beca.

Mr Brennan then enjoyed a stint in the United Kingdom as a project engineer at Siemens, before returning to a role at Beca in Christchurch, where he spent a further six-and-a-half years honing his expertise in hazardous areas (explosive atmospheres).

He said the taster course and scholarships provided a valuable boost in confidence that would go on to shape his future.

“Experiencing that early success gave me the confidence to always have a go, so that’s been my approach ever since.”

It’s an approach that saw Mr Brennan spend his first two years post-university teaching English in Japan, as part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.

It also led to his membership of several local and international standardisation committees for equipment used in explosive atmospheres.

And in 2022, he represented New Zealand in San Francisco at the International Electrotechnical Commission’s Young Professionals Programme.

Mr Brennan’s success story is one of many to have emerged from Trust Horizon’s educational initiatives across the years.

In the past 30 years, Trust Horizon has invested over $4.5 million into inspiring hundreds of young people to become part of a motivated, ambitious, equitable and skilled future workforce.

“Trust Horizon continues to see education as a key area for continued investment, and this year we are hoping to see more apprentices and engineers apply for support,” said chief executive Derek Caudwell.

“We don’t always know what the future holds for those we support with education grants, but stories like Tom’s show it can lead to some truly amazing opportunities.”

In his most recent opportunity, Mr Brennan has returned to the electricity supply industry, taking on a new role at Transpower.

“I’m excited to get stuck into some really interesting projects and play a part in helping New Zealand decarbonise and maintain a reliable electricity supply,” he said.

“Trust Horizon’s early support has let me achieve things I otherwise might not have been able to, and almost 20 years later I’m still so grateful.”