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 both middle schools and high schools, as well as new skills […]
Trades Talk – February 2024
February 2024 “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Webinar Join Explore The Trades for a Skills Lab webinar on Wednesday, February 28th from 3-4 PM CST. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, learn about the initiative, and hear from current Skills Lab instructors. As a reminder, applications are due March 31, […]
Trades Talk – January 2024
January 2024 Happy New Year from Explore The Trades! Thank you to all our generous donors who supported our mission in 2023! You help us make a difference and bridge the technical talent gap to the trades of plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical. Learn more about the impact that Explore The Trades had in 2023 […]
Trade Scholarships Are Waiting For You
In these blogs I’ve hammered home how expensive college is these days and cautioned about the burdens of student loan debt. Trade schools are much less expensive than college, but a good one may still set you back thousands of dollars a year. Even modest tuition payments may be a struggle for some of you. […]
Trades Talk – December 2023
December 2023 Thank You for Your Support on Giving Tuesday! Thank you to all our donors who supported our #TradesTuesday campaign for Giving Tuesday! A total of $4,027.80 was raised by 15 donors. Help us continue making a difference by making a donation before the end of the year and be a part of creating […]
Trades Talk – November 2023
November 2023 Explore The Trades Celebrates Grant Awards Kicking off a season of thanksgiving, Explore The Trades is grateful for two recent grant awards from Bradford White Water Heaters and SandCastle Foundation. SandCastle Foundation, a private family foundation in Minnesota, awarded a $10,000 grant to Explore The Trades for general operating support. To learn more […]
Avoid The Clash Of Generations
One of the reasons it’s such a good time to enter a skilled trade is because the existing work force is rapidly aging. The average trade worker Is over 50 years old and approaching retirement. Employers are desperate to recruit enough replacements. That’s the good news for young people entering the trades. The bad […]
Start Building Your References
Most employers, whether in the trades or any other field, will likely ask job applicants for references. These would be people who are familiar with your work at past jobs and/or who will testify about your character. Nobody wants to hire someone who’s lazy, a bumbler or troublemaker. A reference gives employers a third-party glimpse […]
Trades Talk – September 2023
September 2023 Explore The Trades Happy Hour Event! Learn about Explore The Trades’ impact over the last 12 months, including the growth of our Skills Lab partnership with Ferguson. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers and mingle with peers from around the country. Join Explore The Trades to celebrate the skilled trades and the importance of vocational […]
Trades Talk – August 2023
August 2023 Explore The Trades Happy Hour Event! Join Explore The Trades for a happy hour fundraiser in Phoenix on October 5th! Learn about our impact over the past 12 months and have time to relax and spend time with peers from around the country. Guests will also have the opportunity to create their own […]