BEON Energy and RGF Connect transform lives through renewable energy

This innovative employment initiative, developed by BEON Energy and RGF Connect, is breaking down barriers for women with distance to the labor market, including First Nations women, single mothers, youth, and long-term unemployed women. The program, which began in 2018 at the Karadoc Solar Farm in Victoria and has since expanded to other sites across New South Wales and Queensland, contributes to Australia’s ambitious goal of achieving 50% renewable electricity by 2025.

For over eight years, BEON Energy Solutions and RGF Staffing have collaborated on initiatives that go far beyond traditional recruitment. Together, they’ve created employment programs that have helped more than 400 people find meaningful work across at least 11 solar farms throughout Australia.

A partnership that powers communities

“Our projects are delivered in quite remote rural areas where workforce can be hard to come by,” explains Oana Cochrane, Project Lead at BEON Energy Solutions. “By targeting certain groups of people that have perhaps been facing barriers to employment, we’re actually expanding the talent pool.” 

What makes this partnership unique is that it wasn’t born from mandatory requirements. As Cynthia Andrews, Director of Social Impact at RGF Connect (RGF Staffing ANZ), explains: “BEON came to us asking for social programs. They had no KPIs that they needed to fulfill with their clients. They were doing it out of their own corporate and social responsibility, their own values and company ethos.”

Through the Women in Solar program, participants are trained and employed to work directly on the construction and operation of these large-scale renewable energy projects. These women take on roles that range from installation and assembly of solar panels to various technical and operational functions, breaking down stereotypes in this traditionally male-dominated field.

Despite the challenges of recruiting in remote locations, BEON Energy and RGF Staffing ANZ consistently achieve workforce diversity targets of around 30% – creating pathways to financial independence, renewed self-confidence, and career growth for women and First Nations peoples in an industry where they have been historically underrepresented.

Breaking barriers, building futures

The program begins with an intensive training period that combines technical skills with crucial soft skills development. “It’s a combination of practical training about solar farm work,” Cynthia explains, “but then a lot of it is about the softer skill sets: building confidence, creating routines, managing your money now that you’re starting to get paid, and creating that psychologically safe space.”

This comprehensive approach is especially important for women entering the male-dominated construction industry. Participants train together and are placed in the same crews when they start work, ensuring they have familiar faces around them from day one.

BEON’s commitment doesn’t end when people are hired. Oana emphasizes their continuous on-site presence: “We make sure we have a constant presence on site, checking in with all parties to ensure people feel welcome and supported, helping to troubleshoot any potential problems.”

Business benefits: beyond doing good

While social responsibility drives these initiatives, the business benefits have been equally impressive. For BEON, these programs address a critical challenge in their industry. The positive community engagement has transformed BEON’s business development process. 

Oana Cochrane, BEON Energy Solutions. “By targeting certain groups of people that have perhaps been facing barriers to employment, we’re actually expanding the talent pool.”

Cynthia notes: “Organizations are approaching BEON, as opposed to them having to tender for work, because the community engagement and feedback has been so positive compared to some of their competitors.” This reputation has contributed to a significant competitive advantage, with Oana confirming they’ve been in the “privileged position to at times have to put the brakes on new projects” due to their full pipeline.

The programs have also strengthened BEON’s employer brand, attracting staff who want to make a difference. “For people who are community-minded, it brings that job satisfaction that your job is contributing to more than just building the project,” Oana says.

Creating ripple effects

The impact extends far beyond individual employment. “You’ve got households that have broken co-generational unemployment. You’ve got single mothers who now have an income and can buy their children Christmas presents,” Cynthia shares. “You are breaking a cycle of health issues, even potential homelessness.”

The initiative’s success, meanwhile, has expanded beyond Australia, with similar programs now running in New Zealand and plans for further growth. For both organizations, RGF Connect represents an ongoing aspiration to create opportunities for all. 

Cynthia Andrews: “It’s a combination of practical training about solar farm work, but then a lot of it is about the softer skill sets: building confidence, creating routines, managing your money now that you’re starting to get paid, and creating that psychologically safe space.”

“Execution is far more important than intention,” Cynthia emphasizes, “and BEON has both the intention and the execution.” As the renewable energy sector continues to grow, this partnership demonstrates that with the right support, businesses can achieve strong commercial outcomes while creating meaningful social impact. It’s a powerful model showing how companies across industries can build bridges to opportunities for underrepresented communities. In Oana’s words, they’re making social responsibility “a core part of how we operate” – and changing hundreds of lives in the process.

This story is part of RGF Connect’s Global Week of Impact, highlighting initiatives that connect people to education, training and work across the world.