MassCEC Support Internship Program Success (SIPS) Initiative
MassCEC Support Internship Program Success (SIPS) Initiative
BGS has served as a Training Provider for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Support Internship Program Success (SIPS) Initiative (formerly the Targeted Internship Program) for the past 5 years. This program started as a pilot project in 2021 to address the lack of diversity within MassCEC's existing summer internship program. BGS participated as a training provider in that pilot program and continued each subsequent summer ultimately taking over as the lead provide for the 2024 and 2025 sessions,
BGS’s role as a training provider is to recruit and match First Generation College students, Pell Grant recipients and residents of Environmental Justice neighborhoods with clean energy employers for summer internship opportunities. Beyond screening and matching students with internships, BGS provided an employer best practices orientation and continued support for students, including professional skill-building workshops, clean energy career exposure opportunities, a mentoring program with professionals in the field, and community building within the cohort.
IMPACT
BGS is the lead training provider for the MassCEC Support Internship Program Success Initiative (SIPS). BGS recruits and places college students and clean energy certificate program students who identify as First Generation college students, Pell Grant recipients and residents of Environmental Justice neighborhoods into into clean energy internships. BGS also provides educational and professional skill building workshops, community building, network connections and retention support to students throughout the summer program. In addition, BGS supports employers with their recruitment and retention efforts by helping them identify interns who may be a good fit for their opportunity and providing training around internship best practices for all supervisors at host clean energy companies.
Our impact over the first 5 years of the program is follows:
Recruited, placed, and supported over 150 interns in the clean energy industry
Delivered over 22 workshops on clean energy career awareness and career readiness skills
Trained over 300 employers on best practices around an inclusive internship experience
Supported student retention for 150 interns through virtual meetups and office hours
TESTIMONIAL
Reflecting on my experience in the program..., I can confidently say that it has been a transformative journey. As a learner, the program provided me with invaluable opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings, thereby deepening my understanding of complex concepts. The exposure to real-world scenarios not only honed my problem-solving skills but also instilled in me a sense of confidence in my abilities. Moreover, the mentorship and networking opportunities offered by the program expanded my professional connections and provided valuable guidance for my early career endeavors. In terms of career impact, the program equipped me with transferable skills and practical experiences that have enhanced my marketability and shaped my subsequent job search. Additionally, it influenced my class selection by guiding me towards courses that align with my career aspirations and interests. Overall, the SIPS program has been instrumental in my growth as both a learner and a professional, setting a strong foundation for my future endeavors. - 2023 Program Participant