UI, SCG Continue Investing in Connecticut’s Next Generation of Trade Professionals
The companies welcome 10 students for the 10-week Trade Internship Program connecting them to hands-on career pathways
This summer’s Trade Interns gather with union presidents, UI and SCG Operations employees, and members of Avangrid’s People & Organization team at the launch of the 2026 Trade Internship Program.
ORANGE, Conn. — July 9, 2026 — United Illuminating (UI) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc., today announced the launch of their 2026 Trade Internship Program. This 10-week program provides high school and community college students with real-world exposure to union careers in the electric and natural gas industries, where skilled workers are in high demand.
“We help students discover that there’s more than one path to a rewarding career, and the trades offer real opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact in their own communities,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of UI and SCG. “Every year, we see more interest, more excitement, and more students exploring these fields as a career, while we build the next generation of skilled workers across Connecticut.”
The internship program is the product of ongoing collaboration between UI, SCG, Avangrid’s People & Organization team, and the unions representing front-line employees, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (UWUA) Local 470-1, and United Steel Workers Locals 12000 and 12000-1.
Through these programs, students learn the trades in the classroom and in the field. UI union scholars will receive instruction in pole-climbing, operating a bucket truck, and safely working with tools and equipment. SCG union scholars will learn about gas system design, installation, repairs, and safety inspections, gaining experience in both construction work and service calls.
"Our goal is to broaden students' perspectives and encourage them to pursue careers in the electric industry, which remains in high demand as a significant portion of the workforce nears retirement," said Christine Pariseau, UI’s Senior Director of Electric Operations. "Through the program, we are actively addressing this gap by creating a skilled workforce pipeline, giving students a head start in their careers and enabling them to pursue apprenticeship programs immediately after high school."
Since Avangrid launched the UI internship program in 2023, the program has continued to grow in both size and reach, including the addition of the SCG program in 2025. This year’s cohort includes students from Connecticut State Community College Housatonic and Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport, Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden, Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia and Platt Technical High School in Milford.
The program includes students from the community UI and SCG serve, along with those from high schools and certificate programs. These students will spend the summer working side-by-side with experienced crews, gaining hands-on knowledge and insight into day-to-day operations.
“One of the best parts is seeing students come back,” said Olga Kaminsky, Director of Talent Acquisition at Avangrid. “When they return, it means they found something here, whether it’s a passion for the work or a clear path forward. That’s exactly what we’re trying to create: experiences that actually stick with them beyond the summer.”
“Our partnership with local technical high schools is vital in connecting with students and giving them a glimpse of the rewarding careers in electric operations,” said Moses Rams, President of UWUA Local 470-1 and Chief Line Crew Leader at UI. “As UI enters its fourth year of the trade internship program, we are giving students who have a passion for the electric industry the opportunity to work with trainers who have decades of experience. We provide a safe, supportive environment where students can develop the skills needed for success in the field.”
“I’m proud to support the second year of SCG’s trade internship program and offer students valuable real-world experience and a pathway to careers in the natural gas industry,” said Marcelo Assis, President of USW Local 12000 & 12000-1 AFL-CIO-CLC and Service Technician A. “This program equips students with the practical skills needed for success, and it’s incredibly rewarding for me and my colleagues to share our knowledge and expertise to help ensure they have the training and safe environment they need to thrive.”