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UEI College Partners with Building Talent Foundation Amid Skilled Trade Shortage

UEI College and the Building Talent Foundation (BTF) have partnered in a new effort aimed at helping students in Arizona connect with future employers.

The partnership will provide a wide range of networking, employment, and continuing education support to students graduating from skilled trades programs in order to address the severe talent shortage affecting the residential construction trades – trades such as Certified HVAC Technicians and Electricians.

If you’re interested in enrolling in one of our career training programs, explore the HVAC Program and the Electrician Program at UEI College.

According to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), some construction firms are struggling to fill positions. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors found in a recent survey that both residential and commercial contractors in the state have been struggling to find skilled workers to fulfill existing contracts and start new ones.

“The Building Talent Foundation seeks to address the severe and persistent talent shortage across skilled trades by improving talent supply, training, and retention,” said Branka Minic, CEO of BTF. “Founded by the 20 leading residential construction companies in the U.S. in 2019, BTF brings together employers, educators, and all other market players in regional skills collaborations to catalyze, accelerate, and synchronize joint projects for building the sector’s workforce of the future.”

“At BTF, our mission is to advance the education, training, and career progression of young people and people from underrepresented groups so they can advance in the skilled trades. One way we do this is by serving as a line of communication between companies and training providers,” Minic said. “This new partnership aligns with that mission and will allow BTF to work with UEI College to strengthen the pipeline of well-trained workers in skilled trades.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Building Talent Foundation to support our students in the skilled trade programs,” said Joan Yourstone, Vice President of Career Services at UEI College. “Working with BTF will allow us to create a strong link with local employers to better understand their hiring and training needs, and ultimately benefit students.”

The new partnership will create several benefits for students, including on-campus recruitment events with BTF partner employers; access to BTF’s JobsToBuild career platform that facilitates connections between job seekers and employers; and developing work-based learning opportunities among BTF partners.

“In addition to these wonderful benefits to our students, UEI College also welcomes the collaboration with BTF and partners to ensure that our curricula remain timely and relevant through Program Advisory Committees,” said Dr. Fardad Fateri, President & CEO. “We take great pride in our training programs, which are hands-on, practitioner-oriented, career-focused, and developed by subject matter experts who are being advised directly by industry leaders through these committees.”

UEI College offers HVAC Technician Training, and recently expanded program offerings at the Phoenix Trade School and Mesa Trade School locations to include a new Mesa Electrician Technician Program.

“UEI College’s Electrician Technician program is a timely answer to a critical need,” said Robyn Burrell, Director of Curriculum and Academic Services. “The program gets committed students up to speed, following an industry-recognized, hands-on curriculum that focuses on the skills that matter most to employers. In as few as 10 months, students will develop the skills and get the tools needed to work effectively in the electrician field,” Burrell said.

The Electrician Technician training program prepares students for entry-level positions in the residential, commercial, or industrial fields.

“At the completion of the program, students should be trained and confident, ready to tackle whatever challenges come their way,” Burrell added. “The program is designed to provide students with the necessary training they’ll need as quickly as possible with career-focused courses that are personalized, hands-on, and tailored to the skills that employers look for most.”

About Building Talent Foundation
Building Talent Foundation (BTF) is a non-profit organization founded by the Leading Builders of America, 20 of the largest residential construction companies in the United States. BTF’s mission is to advance the education, training, and career progression of young people and people from underrepresented groups, helping them develop into skilled technical workers and business owners in residential construction. For more information, visit buildingtf.org.

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