Creating Real Pathways into the Skilled Trades 🛠️

Across the United States, there’s a growing need for skilled tradespeople, and meeting that need starts with the next generation.

At Power Design, we see that as both an opportunity and a responsibility.

Because long before someone steps onto a jobsite as an apprentice, there’s a moment that shapes their path – seeing what’s possible, getting hands-on experience, or connecting with someone who’s already doing the work.

The sooner someone is introduced to the trades, the more likely they are to see a future in them. During National Apprenticeship Week, and all year long, it’s a reminder that building the next generation of skilled professionals doesn’t start at hiring; it starts with exposure.

Where It All Begins: Early Experiences that Stick

For many, a career in the trades starts with seeing a jobsite, meeting someone in the field, or realizing there’s a different path forward.

That’s exactly what Power Youth was built to do.

This weeklong summer program gives children of Power Design team members and partners ages 16–18 hands-on exposure to construction through facility tours, real-world experiences, and conversations with the people doing the work every day.

We’ve already seen participants turn that introduction into real careers, joining Power Design’s apprenticeship program and stepping confidently into the field. As the program grows, it’s expanding to reach even more students across the extended Power Design community and beyond, because the earlier we create that connection, the stronger the pipeline becomes.

"I was on the fence about what to do after high school. Joining the trades wasn't initially my plan, but my mom talked me into attending Power Youth and it inspired me. I would tell any teenager that likes working with their hands to check out the trades!"

Tristan | Apprentice

From Classroom to Career, Before Graduation

For some students, the path into the trades starts even before they graduate.

Through IEC Chesapeake’s School to Apprentice program, students are able to begin their apprenticeship while in high school, balancing classroom learning with hands-on jobsite experience.

It’s a model that flips the traditional timeline. Instead of waiting, students are already building skills, gaining experience, and creating momentum toward a career in the electrical trade.

Programs like this don’t just prepare students, they offer a practical, debt-free pathway into a career, while helping them figure out what they want to do by actually doing it.

"I love being on the jobsite every day and watching the building I'm working on go up. College was never in my plan, so getting the chance to work and learn just made sense. By the time I graduate high school, I'll be a full year ahead in my apprenticeship!" 

Timothy | Apprentice

Building What Comes Next

The future of construction isn’t just about the projects we take on, it’s about the people who make them possible. Those people don’t just show up – they’re introduced, supported, and developed over time.

Whether it’s creating that first moment of exposure, helping an apprentice build a career, or working alongside partners to expand opportunity, the focus stays the same: invest early, and invest often.

Because building the future starts long before the jobsite – it starts with the workforce behind it.