april2022 - 38

TRAINING
Mutually beneficial
advantages
The business-school partnership needs to be a
two-way street. Schools want to provide welltrained
entry-level technicians, but they need
the help and input of businesses to be successful
and meet their employment needs. Schools
need partners from the industry to provide
advice and guidance, demonstrate career
opportunities for their students, and help those
students get the hands-on experience that will
grow their skills and encourage them to stick
with an automotive career.
When a business supports a local school's
training program, they not only build the future
pipeline of talent for their shops but also can
grow community awareness for their business,
find candidates for a variety of jobs in their
company, and build teamwork and morale.
" There are businesses that hire students while
» Partnering with schools allows shops to directly mentor students during the education process.
Photo: ASE Education Foundation
Grow your own techs
to solve labor issues
Trouble finding technicians? Ditch the
poach approach and adopt a school.
Looking to hire well-trained, entry-level
service technicians? With the ASE Education
Foundation's new Adopt-A-School program, the
solution may be right down the street-at the
local high school or college.
The Adopt-A-School program not only offers
companies a way to show support for their local
high school and college training programs but
also benefits their businesses by connecting
them with the next generation of repair professionals.
The Adopt-A-School toolkit consists
of detailed plans, ideas, examples, activities,
videos, presentation tools, checklists, best practices,
talking points, engagement ideas, and so
much more. In addition, a local field manager
will be in touch to help connect the business
with schools in their area.
" The demand for automotive technicians
is greater than ever with more baby boomers
retiring every day and the industry facing
growing competition from other skilled trades
for the best young people, " ASE President Mike
Coley said. " Instead of trying to hire experienced
technicians away from other businesses,
the best solution is to grow your own. While it
takes time, it allows the business to choose and
nurture the technicians who will grow with
them and are more likely to stay long term. "
The companies that have already adopted
schools are seeing the advantages of these
efforts, which have allowed these organizations
to be good citizens while also providing them
with an avenue to access future employees.
For their part, schools get industry partners
that provide advice and guidance, demonstrate
career opportunities for their students, and
provide students with hands-on experience
that will grow their skills and encourage them
to pursue a fulfilling automotive career.
" Right now,
By George Arrants
VICE PRESIDENT, ASE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
George Arrants is the vice president for ASE Education
Foundation. Arrants works with instructors and administrators
to develop partnerships with local businesses
and industries through program advisory committees.
He is the past chair of the Technology and Maintenance
Council's TMCSuperTech, the National Technician Skills
Competition, and TMCFutureTech, the National Student
Technician Competition. His entire career has been in the
automotive service and education industries.
there are students taking
automotive and truck training classes at the
local high school or college in preparation for
entering the workforce, " Coley said. " The good
news is that schools are providing students
with the fundamental training they need
to get started. Through the ASE Education
Foundation's Adopt-A-School program,
businesses can connect with local schools
and their students, and develop a beneficial
partnership for years to come. It is a terrific
opportunity all the way around. "
38 Fleet Maintenance | April 2022
they are still in school. If it is done right, this
'work-based learning' reinforces classroom
instruction and increases students' hands-on
skills, making graduates more productive from
the start, " Coley explained. " Research shows that
students who participate in work-based learning
are more likely to join the transportation
service industry and remain there long term.
Supporting local schools can help solve the technician
shortage and increase retention. "
Not supporting schools may have an adverse
effect. ASE data found that after graduating
from high school or a trade school, 20% of
students choose not to pursue a career in
the trade, and another 21% leave within the
first two years of working as a diesel technician.
Partnering with schools allows shops to
directly mentor students during the education
process and proactively address any issues
they may have before they quit the trade.
The ultimate goal of the Adopt-A-School
program is to bridge the gap between businesses
in the transportation industry and the
schools in their local communities. This mutually
beneficial program enables businesses to
provide support to their local schools while
simultaneously providing those businesses
with access to up-and-coming automotive
service professionals entering the work force.
And the commitment can vary based on a
shop's availability.
" Companies can decide the amount of time
and money they would like to invest in the
Adopt-A-School program, " Coley explained.
" They can start working with their local school
very simply and grow the partnership as they
see the benefits grow. Keep in mind that they
are really investing in their business as well
as their community. ASE is here to help with a
plan and plenty of action steps to take. "
The transportation industry has a shortage
of qualified service professionals. The AdoptA-School
program helps the community and
industry and allows businesses to hire and
train their future employees right from the start.
For more information, visit aseeducationfoundation.org/adoptaschool
to access the complete
Adopt-A-School toolkit free of charge.

http://aseeducationfoundation.org/adoptaschool

april2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of april2022