Trades Talk – April 2024

Thank you to all the schools that applied for the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants!Please check our website on May 1st to see the list of new recipients. NEW Recruiting Resources from Explore The Trades!  Explore The Trades is your partner in building

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Explore The Trades at the National HVACR Education Conference

Explore The Trades attended the National HVACR Education Conference hosted by ESCO Group in Las Vegas, NV from March 25-26, 2024. This conference brought together over 1,100 HVACR educators, manufacturers, and industry professionals from all over the country. Explore The Trades’ team members Toni Bower

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Starting From Square 1: Building a Career in the Trades

While starting fresh with a trades career may sound challenging, the payoff can be immense. Jessica Bannister, an HVAC professional, spent over 10 years behind a desk before beginning her apprenticeship in 2018. Jessica grew up thinking the trades weren’t an option for women like

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Beware Of The Peter Principle

“The Peter Principle” is the title of a book published in 1972 that, in my opinion, is one of the most insightful business books ever. It refers to the fact that many people in the business world tend to be promoted beyond their level of

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Mind Your Manners

Politeness is important when it comes to any career, especially the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades. Many people besides myself have noticed a general decline in good manners in recent times. In the trades or any other job for that matter, manners or lack

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Trades Talk – March 2024

“Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Applications Due This Month! Bring the plumbing or HVAC trade to YOUR school! Explore The Trades and Ferguson have partnered to bring the plumbing and HVAC trades back into classrooms across the country. Funding is available for

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5 Key Ways Tech Is Revolutionizing Trade Education

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology plays a pivotal role in reshaping trade education, making it more accessible, engaging, and effective than ever before. You can also get yourself EPA Certified online whenever you want. How crazy is that? Here’s a concise overview of how

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What I Learned From Shop Class

I want to revisit a blog I wrote six years ago for this website. (Click here to read that article.) A key passage went as follows: “Even though I was a klutz mechanically, the mandatory shop classes taught me to handle tools better than I

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JJM Alkaline Technologies® Partners with Explore The Trades

– By JJM Alkaline Technologies and Explore The Trades Explore The Trades is pleased to partner with JJM Alkaline Technologies®, a leading designer and manufacturer of condensate neutralizers, as an Apprentice Level sponsor in 2024. Through this sponsorship, JJM® will support Explore The Trades’ mission

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