Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and United Way Miami proudly welcomed the first class of students to the pilot Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which will prepare them with technical skills and knowledge required for a potential career as line workers.
As America’s largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 6 million accounts, or more than 12 million people. FPL operates one of the most fuel efficient and cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S and in 2022 won the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in the last ten years.
Latasha Moore, senior director, United Way Miami Center for Financial Stability discusses resources available to students while they are enrolled in the program.
This program recruits candidates from United Way Miami’s transformative workforce fund, UpSkill Miami, aiming to empower Miami-Dade County residents by offering skills training in high-demand industries, bridging the gap between a lack of skilled workers and unfilled jobs.
United Way Miami has been a leader in Miami-Dade’s nonprofit community for 100 years. Founded in 1924, we work with our network of donors, volunteers and partners to transform the lives of our most vulnerable residents. We leverage our unique position to convene the community and build awareness of Miami-Dade’s needs and potential.
Symeria Hudson, President and CEO of United Way Miami
“At United Way, we know that addressing the challenges our community faces requires bold partnerships and innovative solutions,” said Symeria Hudson, president and CEO of United Way Miami. “Together with FPL, we’re proud to launch this first class of nearly a dozen individuals, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to enter the energy industry. We are opening doors to stable, rewarding careers by addressing the growing demand for skilled line workers. Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of coming together to create opportunities and build a community where every individual and family can succeed.”
FPL’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program is for students interested in a future career as a skilled line worker and features six months of formal training, which includes classroom instruction, field demonstration, computer-based training modules and two weeks of on-the-job training. During the program, students will learn to maintain and restore overhead and underground power lines, as well as the safe operations and care for various types of heavy equipment.
Ed DeVarona, VP of Power Delivery at FPL
“We’re honored to partner with United Way Miami to help provide unique career development opportunities for students throughout South Florida,” said Ed DeVarona, FPL vice president of power delivery. “At FPL, line workers provide an essential service that powers the everyday lives of our customers. The skills these students will learn through this Pre-Apprenticeship Program will set the stage for them to begin fulfilling careers that are important to our company, their communities and the state of Florida.”
During the program, students will participate in a two-week internship. Upon successfully completing the program, students may be considered for job offers with FPL for open positions based in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.