The Academy of Craft Training (ACT), the ABC Alabama Chapter’s training program, aims to encourage high school students to join the trades by recruiting and educating them about educational and employment opportunities in the construction industry.
ACT connects students from 24 Birmingham-metro area high schools with contractors and industry partners, many of which hire the students as interns or employees. Students attend ACT at the Alabama Workforce Training Center’s simulated workplace, where they receive NCCER construction-related training in various trades, including masonry, HVAC, plumbing, welding and electrical.
During the 2017/2018 winter break, 66 students participated in internships with 22 contractors, working more than 4,000 hours with no incidents on 38 jobsites. During the recent spring break, 63 students worked more than 2,000 hours with no incidents.
This year, 80 students graduated from the program, with 66 seniors scheduled to begin working with a contractor in the next few weeks. The remaining graduates are signed up for military service, accepted to a college or working in other industries.
For more information, visit www.academyofcrafttraining.org as well as ACT’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
