In late July, the Columbus/Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council hosted a career fair for veterans. The fair aimed to educate attendees about the numerous career opportunities with the trades in Central Ohio. Representatives from various local building trades apprenticeship programs attended and eagerly shared information about their crafts, including Sheet Metal Workers Local 24.
The building trades are particularly interested in recruiting veterans, because of the great skills learned while serving our country. The program Helmets to Hardhats (H2H), which is aimed at veteran recruitment and retention, helps to achieve this goal through a grant that provides veterans entering an apprenticeship program the necessary supplies/tools, work boots and stipend to guarantee achievement.
Apprenticeship programs provide on the job training coupled with classroom instruction. The training centers are state-of-the art and use cutting-edge technologies.
Additionally, these programs allow students to earn while they learn, helping them to graduate debt free. Most programs work with a local community college, so that apprentices earn college credit and will finish the program with an associate’s degree, at no expense to them. It is a great way to learn a trade that will support a family.
Veterans of all ages are welcome to apply for an apprenticeship with Local 24.