In 2024, Energy Trust expanded mentorship opportunities for contractors participating in its Contractor Development Pathway for current and prospective trade ally businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color, women and people in rural areas.

Expanding access to diverse contractors and helping them complete more clean energy projects is a valuable way to engage and build trust with communities that have been underserved by Energy Trust in the past.

The Contractor Development Pathway provides participants with education and resources to expand their knowledge of energy efficiency and grow their business. Energy Trust introduced a peer mentorship component in response to feedback from pathway participants that they needed more support navigating the complexities of the industry.

Newcomers to the Contractor Development Pathway can choose to be matched with a mentor who has a history of completing projects with Energy Trust incentives. Through structured one-on-one support, mentees gain a better idea of what to expect from the pathway and how to make the most of Energy Trust’s resources. Topics discussed during mentorship sessions included networking, equipment, estimating, marketing and job shadowing.

In 2024, four mentors and 10 mentees completed more than 60 hours of mentorship.

Kwasi Boateng, chief operations officer at Burch Energy, became a mentor after completing the Contractor Development Pathway. As an energy-efficiency consulting business, Burch Energy works to optimize its customers’ energy performance and ensure positive environmental impacts.

Boateng’s decision to get more involved came easily. “There are barriers that have limited or excluded certain groups from partaking in this industry,” Boateng said. “I wanted to help other business owners navigate growth challenges.”

For Boateng, being a mentor is rewarding because he gets to both teach and learn while building important business networks. Boateng was eager to share what he learned with his mentee, answer their questions and give them the leg up he wishes he had. “My mentee didn’t have to spend months or years trying to figure out something that took our own business a long time to figure out.”

In 2025, Energy Trust will continue to grow mentorship opportunities to strengthen support for contractors from diverse backgrounds.