Recently, one of our team members had the opportunity to tour The Academy of Craft Training’s Birmingham campus. The ACT is a public–private partnership between the state’s construction industry and K–12 education, aimed at preparing high school juniors and seniors for careers in the commercial construction sector. They train students who represent every public school in Jefferson County and beyond, learning job skills in tracks like welding, HVAC, commercial electrical construction, interiors and exterior finishes and commercial building construction. All students earn their OSHA 10 certification. To us, it seems like a great starting point for site superintendents and many others looking for a way to launch into construction.
The facility is amazing, with dedicated training areas for each of their tracts. High school students gain hands-on experience in high-demand trades, learning directly from industry professionals. There is no tuition for the program, offering a debt-free career path. There are currently campuses in several Alabama cities, and later this year, Birmingham will become home to one of the few fall training institutes in the country.
It’s turned out to be a popular program, and the application process is competitive with only about 50 percent of applicants accepted. We see this as a great way to reach younger folks who might excel in the trades, and a solid answer to the how we will replenish the aging superintendent population. Thanks to our own Chappell Covington for attending and spearheading our efforts.
