By pursuing a career in the electric trade, students can enter an in-demand job market without a significant amount of debt. Steve Richardson, corporate safety director at The UP Companies (UPCO), discusses the training program at his company, its core values, and the rapidly changing industry.
Q: How are you recruiting the next generation of electricians?
A: We have consistently reached out to young people through industry-supported programs with the message that the construction trades offer an excellent opportunity to pursue a satisfying and noble occupation. They can take their place in society and immediately reap the benefits of a fair wage for their effort.
We recognize the pursuit of college is not the only post-secondary occupational training option, and college is not an effective and reasonable option for everyone. As we visit high schools, trade schools and career development centers, we share with the next generation the benefits they can enjoy through a career in skilled labor without absorbing the massive debt that often comes with the college option.
Q: Talk about your training program at Power UP Electrical Contractors.
A: We focus on training and education of our employees specific to their level of assigned responsibilities and authority. We also offer and provide educational opportunities for all of our team members to advance them on to the next level of responsibility in their career development.
Q: What are your company’s core values that you focus on during your training?
A: A main focus of our training is safety-specific, but we also focus on and share our UPCO core values with our entire team. Those UPCO core values include:
- Hustle—master craftsmanship, technical excellence, how to be proactive and dedication
- Step UP—Challenge 360, diversity, and courage
- Extreme Ownership—a servant’s heart, integrity, being humble and accountable
- Love One Another—brotherhood, mentoring, and respect
- Live the Process—championship mentality, communicate, compete, results, and continuous learning
When communicated effectively and implemented consistently, the practice of our core values will result in the safest, most well-trained, educated, dedicated, and satisfied workforce in the construction industry.
Q: How has your training program changed over the years?
A: We recognize the time we invest in our team members is just that, an investment. Over the past few years, sharing our core values and how we value the safety and health of our team before we hire through initial orientation and consistently throughout the year has proven to empower and promote the value of each of our team members.
Q: What are some best practices for training your up-and-coming electrical apprentices?
A: We have a well-developed orientation training process for our people. We introduce our apprentices not only to the history of our organization, but also to the opportunities available to them as we continue to expand our influence in the construction market. We have a strong partnership with the local union and industry trade partners that provide opportunities for apprentices to see the value and benefit of good, honest work and how that can help them influence their families and their local communities.
Q: What do you see in the future for electrical apprenticeship programs?
A: It is impossible to overestimate the value of the training and development process offered by our local union support team. The apprenticeship programs and training and education delivery methods are constantly changing to adapt to the way our younger generation learns. We fully expect the apprenticeship training process to continue to develop technology-based delivery systems that will be useful in providing virtual construction experiences for our new apprentices and future pre-apprentice candidates.
Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected].
