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As a result, Little Electric has gone from According to experts, the demand for Using an extensive communication and
supplying power to two large festivals a skilled tradespeople is expected to remain operations system, Little Electric can not
summer to multiple ones year-round. high over the next 10 years, since more only keep close contact with its team of
“I did that until 2012 and actually left again than 700,000 skilled trades workers are electricians and apprentices but ensure
to work for a generator rental company in expected to retire by 2028, creating an customers’ needs are meet in a timely and
Toronto for two years and learned a lot ever growing need to recruit and train professional manner, something Rakesh
about the industry and then came back thousands more. says has been key to its continued success.
here as partner,” he says. The government’s Canadian Apprenticeship “I know this probably sounds cliché, but if
Strategy is also making targeted you take care of your staff and take of your
Besides delivering an array investments to remove barriers and get customers, they will take care of you,” he
of comprehensive residential, more Canadians the hands-on experience says, referring to the best piece of business
commercial, and industrial and apprenticeship training they need advice he ever received.
electrical services, Little Electric – to build good, well-paying careers in the “On the business side of it, I recommend
which now employs 19 people - has skilled trades, but this will take time. you use as many resources as you can and
substantially grown its temporary “I think we’re a little late as a country,” says don’t try and do everything yourself or
power division. Rakesh, noting while still in high school he you’ll just go crazy.”
Although the company primarily serves noticed academically ‘challenged’ students Visit www.little-electric.com to learn more.
were often encouraged to pursue a career
Waterloo Region and Guelph, it does have a in the trades. “Everybody was pushing
further reach and has undertaken projects university and college for computer
in places including Muskoka and as far sciences, computer programming, and IT.
east as Kingston requiring the onboarding And that's where a lot of students went. I
of at least four summer students during feel like it's only been recently where that
the busy festival season. mindset has flipped after we went through
“Having that temporary power side really an era with all these students getting
lends us to be able to bring a whole computer sciences and IT degrees and now
different scope to the services that we can there’s no jobs because so many people
offer. I think what sets us apart is the large have gone through it.”
inventory of rental equipment we have,” At Little Electric, he says they are doing
says Rakesh, adding Little Electric also their part to boost the labour force by
rents equipment to other contractors. continually onboarding apprentices paving
“They’ll be doing a shutdown or work on a the way for the company’s continued
main service and need to bypass something expansion.
and we have the equipment they can rent “We will definitely be expanding,” says
to do it versus them building it.” Rakesh, noting the company, located in
Having the opportunity to undertake large a large industrial building on Turnbull
scale projects is one of the best parts, he Court, has occupied several locations over
says, of being in the electrical business. the years including on Sheldon Drive and
“I like seeing them go from a plan on paper Shearson Crescent.
to being executed and actually seeing “When I started, we were actually right next
them come to life,” he says. “The only real door. I think we’ve been at this location
con of being in this business is dealing (Turnbull Court) for about twelve years
with a trade skills shortage. It’s tough and now. We’re very comfortable here.”
it’s not going away unfortunately.”

www.cambridgechamber.com Spring 2025 43