Trades Professionals and Industry Partners

Explore The Trades is your partner in building the next generation of technical talent.

Through free resources and the support of our industry partners, we’re helping students discover stable, high-paying careers in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical—and closing the talent gap in the trades.

Partner with Schools. Build the Future.

We’re creating a network of businesses ready to support local schools and the next generation of skilled trades professionals. Help lead the way!

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Creating Career Connections

Explore The Trades is excited to share new school-to-industry partnerships that have launched across the country!

Strawberry Crest High School & Stuart’s Plumbing (Florida)

Strawberry Crest High School is kicking off a new trades club and reached out for industry partners to speak at weekly meetings and lead hands-on demonstrations. Stuart’s Plumbing stepped up to support their students.

Irondale High School & Connors Plumbing, Heating & Air (Minnesota)

Irondale High School introduced a new “Trades Math” course and sought insight from local trades professionals about real-world applications. Connors Plumbing, Heating & Air loved the initiative and partnered with the school.

Arcola Intermediate School & Ryan Kiscaden (Pennsylvania)

Each year, Arcola Intermediate School hosts a STEAM Day and was in need of guest presenters. With his background in HVAC, plumbing, and children’s literature, Ryan Kiscaden was the perfect match and volunteered to participate.

Career Discovery Event – How To Guide

As you continue to build your bench of talented employees, look no further than your local middle and high schools. Inside those walls are plenty of young people who have the right attitude and aptitude for the trades, but don’t know what their paths will be after graduation. Utilize this how-to guide to help you make the most of this opportunity!

Ride & Decide – How To Guide

How does anyone know if a career is right for them? It can often be guesswork and hope. You’re addressing this by letting prospective employees get a deep look into the industry and your company. They’ll get this look by riding along with techs and deciding whether this is the career for them. Use this guide as a template for beginning a ride-along program at your company.

Recruiting the Next Generation

Learn more about expanding recruiting efforts in your business and community using the information available below. “Five Steps to Recruiting the Next Generation of Technical Talent” is your guide to building your trades talent bench.

Apprenticeships and Training

Apprenticeships and training programs are vital to the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical trades. Complete the form below to share your company’s program and connect with future employees.

Trades Videos & Career Path Downloads

Looking for complementary resources to your recruiting efforts? Look no further than Explore The Trades’ content!

School and the Skilled Trades

Introduce your local schools to the trades with these poster kits created by Explore The Trades. This kit can position your company as an industry-leading business in the community and provide the students with information about their future careers in the trades.

Plumbing Career Path
Infographic

HVAC Career Path
Infographic

Electrical Career Path
Infographic

Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson

Since 2021, 35 schools in 17 states have participated in the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” initiative. Over 3,500 students have been impacted by having the plumbing and HVAC trades as part of their middle or high school education. The skilled trades are vital to the wellbeing and growth of communities and all schools are encouraged to apply for equipment grants through this program to bring the plumbing and HVAC trades to their students.

STEM and the Skilled Trades

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce forward to stability, career growth opportunities and success. STEM is the skilled trades of plumbing, heating and cooling (HVAC) and electrical.

In this section, we’re going to dive deeper into plumbing, HVAC and electrical and illustrate how STEM impacts the trades that keep you safe, healthy and comfortable each day.

STEM is Electrical

STEM and the Skilled Trades Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce…

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