Final in a five-part series from CONTRACTOR
Contrator concludes its series profiling The Apprentice, Brian Whitehead, a second year plumbing apprentice. Whitehead works for Jim Steinle, chairman of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s Plumbing Apprentice and Journeyman Training Committee.
The plumbing industry needs all hands on deck—contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers—to combat a critical shortage of skilled labor. The battle has two fronts: attracting interest in the field and then delivering the right training for fast changing technologies.
The good news is the progress is being made, as evidenced by Brian Whitehead’s story. Whitehead was raised with a respect for the trades, he was mentored by a caring teacher while still in high school, and that teacher had a relationship with a contracting firm who built his business by sponsoring apprentices and investing what it takes to retain his highly trained talent.
How does the industry attract more Brians? The better question might be: how does the industry attract more mentors and sponsors?
ATTRACTING TALENT:
SHOW THEM THE MONEY (AND RESPECT)
Whitehead’s
mentor, Ken Anderson, Whitehead's mentor and a plumbing
instructor at the Virginia Beach Vocational Training Center
says the industry should not be shy about promoting the
earning potential for plumbers, noting the difference between
four-or five-year paid-apprenticeship vs. four or five
years of student loans.
Noting that money is one thing and respect is another, Anderson acknowledged that prospects need to see more success stories.
Skill competitions are highly visible ways to showcase and attract new talent the same way other youths might display their gifts on the football field or the debating team. PHCC, Skills USA and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) are among the organizations hosting state or regional competitions that feed into national competitions sponsored by manufacturers and promoted to the media.
Whitehead’s sponsor Jim Steinle said the competitions also motivate his apprentices to complete the full four-year training program, instead of stopping after attaining the minimum training required to sit for the journey level licensing test. “That’s just two years in Virginia,” Steinle said. “I tell my guys like Brian in their first or second year that if they hang in there, they can enter the state competition.”
The 2006 Plumbing Apprenticeship Contest will be held
Sept. 28, 2006, in conjunction with the PHCC-National Association's annual convention in Chicago, IL.
THE INDUSTRY’S ROLE
The PHCC-NA Educational Foundation has been updating its
plumbing apprentice training manuals, and has joined forces
with the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI),
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and Refrigeration
Service Engineers Society (RSES) to offer a plumbing and
HVACR instructor workshop in April geared toward improving
the quality of instruction in apprentice programs across
the country.
“We need to pull these programs up by their bootstraps,” said Gerry Kennedy, chief operating officer of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association Educational Foundation.
PHCC’s Foundation can help contractor members understand how and why to sponsor apprentices. Steinle says he has actively supported the Foundation's apprentice program, in part to give back to the industry, but also it's good business. A well-trained workforce enables Steinle to command a price premium for his service and repair business based in the Tidewater area of Virginia. State tax credits may be available to help contractors offset training costs.
“Wholesalers and manufacturers can be helping out as well,” Kennedy adds. “There are apprentice programs that would benefit from their facilities, business and marketing savvy, as well as their financial support.” Kennedy said the foundation welcomes product donations from manufacturers to support apprentice training. Interested manufacturers should contact the Foundation
The industry can also support the apprentice classroom training by steering prospects to apply for the scholarships offered by the PHCC Educational Foundation and its industry partners. 2006 scholarships applications can be downloaded and printed from the Foundation area of PHCC’s website at www.phccweb.org.
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