Training and Recruitment

Boston – NEI General Contracting, Inc, a general contracting and construction management firm, in conjunction with local community partners, has launched the Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC2 or WORC Lab).

Designed to engage local communitybased businesses and workers in the construction industry, particularly those underrepresented in the market, WORC2 will offer “one-stop shopping” resources and technical support to promote worker development, business capacity building, and growth in the local construction community. Through education and information sharing, WORC2 will also endeavor to remove the systemic barriers workers face when trying to access the industry.

The permanent home for WORC2 will be located at the Bartlett Place development at 2505 Washington St. in Roxbury when it opens in fall 2022. Until then, a temporary space will open at 2103 Washington St. in Roxbury in June.

As part of the construction of the space, NEI partnered with the Madison Park Technical Vocational School to provide opportunities for students to use their training in a real-world setting. All the materials and equipment required were provided by NEI. André Barbour, NEI’s diversity and inclusion director, will oversee WORC2 and be the liaison with Madison Park students and instructors.

The WORC Lab will be home to an extensive curriculum of professional and industry-specific training sessions, seminars, webinars, and mentorships. Offering a variety of learning opportunities for subcontractors and workers as well as structured business development paths, courses will focus on developing and expanding the project management, back office, and accounting capabilities of contractors. All information will be presented in multiple languages to better engage the local community.

NEI partnered with the Madison Park Technical Vocational School to provide opportunities for students to use their training in a real-world setting.

“WORC2 will offer a range of courses, including accounting, risk management, and estimating, all essential skills for contractors,” said Josef Rettman, president of NEI. “The key is to provide flexibility in the delivery of this information to fit into workers’ schedules. Some classes will be offered quarterly and others on a monthly basis. The NEI staff has been hard at work developing the curriculum and we all appreciate the opportunity to give back to our community.”

Concord, NH – New Hampshire’s first ever Construction Virtual Career Fair was held in May, in response to the continued industry growth and workforce demands in construction and the building trades. The event was offered in partnership between Associated Builders & Contractors of NH/VT, I Build NH, and New Hampshire Employment Security.

In total, 50 employers participated and more than 250 job seekers registered to attend the job fair virtually. There were more than 1,600 positions available ranging from field and office positions and entry-level to experienced.

“These are well-paying careers that offer people an opportunity to make a great living in the Granite State,” said Josh Reap, president and CEO of ABC NH/VT. “Our industry is booming and I’m encouraged to see that many people turned out for the job fair. There were 1600 openings but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. By our estimate, there are over 2,000 construction careers ready to be filled today in our state. We need to do more to get more people into our industry.”

Jacob Campbell, a recruiter with PeopleReady, said attempting to hire tradespeople during these times hasn’t been easy. “During this event I spoke with more candidates than I have over the past two weeks from advertising,” said Campbell. “This was truly helpful in my search for qualified candidates and I look forward to more events in the future.”

Miami – The American Welding Society (AWS) has launched a new initiative targeting students and early career welders, titled “AWS Certified.”

Welding is among the most crucial and essential skilled trades that impact everyday life, according to a recent AWS article, yet the number of skilled welding technicians and professionals continues to decrease. Younger generations may not see the necessity of certification so early in their careers.

To date, there are over 40,000 Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) worldwide but AWS has 10 more certifications, each one focusing on a different specialty or career path that is critical in the welding industry.

“Being AWS Certified shows you’re proud to be in this industry, and it requires you to master the skills that uphold our industry standards. It gives you credibility and respect among your peers,” stated Nate Bowman, director of welding optimization & education at Central Welding Supply. “Welding education is the key to success in the industry.”

Concord, NH – Nobis Group, an employeeowned consulting firm providing engineered solutions for development, energy, and the environment, recently awarded scholarships to two 2021 high school graduates.

The 2021 Nobis Group STEM Scholarship recipients include Massachusetts student Edmire Kabia of Lowell High School, and New Hampshire student Neil Kachappilly of Nashua High School South. Kabia and Kachappilly are pursuing higher education in the fields of civil engineering and environmental engineering, respectively. The students met with Nobis president and CEO, Ken Koornneef, and Senior Vice President Pete Delano at the firm’s New Hampshire and Massachusetts offices to receive their scholarships.

Now in its third year, the Nobis scholarship program was developed to further the company’s dedication to promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to high school students. The scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts who have demonstrated an interest and are pursuing further education in STEM fields at a college,

Edmire Kabia (l) and Pete Delano

Neil Kachappilly (l) and Ken Koornneef

university, or trade school. Scholarship applications, essays, and transcripts are evaluated by an internal committee at Nobis comprised of scientists, engineers, and administrative professionals who are tasked with selecting students who best demonstrate a passion for STEM.