THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR NH’s AUTOMOTIVE WORKFORCE BY ADAM MEMMOLO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, NHADA The sound of the last dismissal bell and students anxiously awaiting their summer freedom marks the end of NHADA’s recruitment season. This year, each visit to a high school career technology center resulted in at least one new job for student(s). On that note, I am feeling very hopeful for the automotive workforce in New Hampshire. WHAT LED TO A SUCCESSFUL YEAR Instructor Participation: This year, high school instructors worked diligently to connect their students with the industry through field trips and automotive training programs with the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH). Automotive Competitions: SkillsUSA and the Ford ACE competitions created excellent environments for industry to connect with students. These events not only test students’ hands-on skills, but also their soft skills like interviewing for a job. Work-Based Learning: Also known as internships, local schools have placed a greater emphasis on this style of learning. In fact, most schools have a work-based learning coordinator on staff to connect students with prospective internships. These opportunities extend beyond internships as technicians, some shops have taken on service writers and parts representatives. The goal of the New Hampshire Automotive Education Foundation at its essence is to increase the number of students landing jobs in the industry following their education. The pipeline is strong and undoubtedly growing, though we need your participation and support in carrying out programs like the ones just mentioned. WHAT ELSE Career Fairs: Over the last several months we attended college and career fairs, some of which we were joined by NHADA members to help tell the story of what a career in automotive is like. Here, we met the general population of students, extending beyond those already in automotive. This is an excellent opportunity to sway some students who are on the bubble and bring to light the auto programs in New Hampshire, ApprenticeshipNH and the NHADA job board. Training Grants: This past year, more members utilized the NHADA job training grant, offering tuition reimbursement for member employees who want to advance their career in automotive. This is a great resource for entry‑level technicians. NHADA also has a partnership with ApprenticeshipNH, offering even more resources for employees seeking continuing education. WHAT’S NEXT? Now we turn to scholarship season, awarding the hardworking high school students that took the time to apply for a scholarship. Keep an eye out on future communications as we announce recipients and our total giving amount. On average, we award over $65,000! If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact me at (603) 224-2369 or amemmolo@nhada.com. 23
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