The shortage of skilled trades such as plumbing, HVAC and electrical workers has been well-documented throughout the country, with older generations of skilled tradesmen entering retirement much faster than they can be replaced.
According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, some 70 percent of U.S. construction firms report difficulty finding qualified workers. And the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the nation’s need for workers in the skilled trades is increasing much faster than the growth of employment overall.
To help alleviate the problem, more training programs are needed for the next generation of electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians. In addition to technical/vocational schools, and community colleges, a growing number of businesses are establishing more formalized training programs. Heritage PHCE, a family-run trades contractor based in New Hampshire, has created a fully equipped on-site training center at its headquarters.
In addition, Heritage recently established its own trade school scholarship program — awarding two $3,000 scholarships to students in New England pursuing a career in the HVAC, plumbing and electrical trades.
“We are definitely feeling the effects of the shortage,” said Brad Chartier, general manager at Heritage, a family-run business started by his father and uncle in 1986. Here, BUILDER talks with Chartier about his company’s commitment to alleviating the labor shortage.
Tell us a bit about your business. What type of trade contractor are you?
Short answer, we’re a family-run plumbing, heating, cooling and electric company established in 1986 by brothers Steve and Craig Chartier with a pickup truck, a handful of customers, and a dream.
Our headquarters in Auburn, N.H., has served as home base as we have expanded to cover most of southern and central New Hampshire. In more recent years, we have also begun expanding operations into northern Massachusetts — a growth strategy that has included opening a facility in Tewksbury, Mass.
Tell us about your training center. How long has it been in operation?
Almost 10 years ago we began building an expansive, in-house training facility at our headquarters in Auburn, where we provide ongoing training (up 150 hours per year) for every Heritage team member — new hires and experienced technicians alike.
Who attends the center? How many graduates does it have?
Currently, our training program focuses on both new hires and veteran team members (though we have also considered broadening the scope of our training operation in the future). Each of our five-star technicians receives in-depth training both on the mechanical aspects of the job, and also the vitally important customer service part of the experience.
In addition to skills training performed on all of the equipment (and anticipating all of the scenarios) that our technicians might encounter on the job, our training facility is also equipped with computer stations that our techs use to undergo testing and to achieve and maintain important industry certifications.
What was the reason you decided to set up the center?
The original idea was that creating an in-house training center would help us achieve our commitment to our customers that we will send only the best-trained plumbers, electricians and heating/cooling technicians into their homes. Since then, the training center has also involved into an important (internal and external) symbol of our mission to deliver only the most professional, highest-quality service.
How is it funded?
The training center represents an important and substantial investment that we have chosen to make in our company, for each of the reasons mentioned above.
Why is training so important for the industry?
Ours is an industry that performs an important and necessary service for nearly every homeowner and household — and we take that responsibility to heart.
The decision to invest in our own training center has paid additional dividends in light of the ongoing labor shortage that has impacted the skilled trades, both nationally and here in New England. This year, our commitment to attracting and training top talent has also inspired us to launch a tech school scholarship program in which we offer two annual $3,000 scholarships to students pursuing a career in the HVAC, plumbing and electrical trades.
