Construction Training
For young people who learn by doing and love to work with their hands, our construction training courses are a great option.
The Challenge
The construction industry and its many apprenticeship programs offer a tremendous opportunity for our students, where a young person with a high school diploma or GED can find a good paying career while they learn on the job. We also know from talking to our partners in the local construction industry that they are eager to hire young qualified workers, as many people in their existing workforce are reaching retirement age.
But succeeding in the construction industry isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you don’t already have job connections from your family or friends. That’s where we come in.
Our Response
We make it easier for underserved youth to join the trades. As long as they’re ready to put in the hard work, we’ll be there to guide them through the process every step of the way.
We’re happy to offer two construction training programs for young people who need help getting into an apprenticeship program. Our Bridge and YouthBuild students work side by side on construction jobsites and receive the same levels of instruction; our Bridge students simply go through the information at a faster pace.
Construction training courses take place in the classroom and on the jobsite, where students build about three or four affordable homes every year. By immersing students into a working construction jobsite right away, not only do they learn the basics of how to swing a hammer or use a saw, they also absorb tons of information about jobsite culture. We believe this experience is critical, especially for our young women, students of color, and those who identify as LGBTQ+, for helping them prepare for careers in the trades.
Jobsite training at PYB replicates commercial jobsites in many ways and students are held to the same high standards as any other construction worker, especially since they are learning while building real homes. These very real expectations and responsibilities are met with very high levels of support from our construction trainers, who coach students to learn new skills in a safe and trusted environment.
In addition to having a solid grasp of construction basics after completing our construction training program, all of our students are also capable of walking onto a professional jobsite and knowing the cultural expectations around safety, time management, work ethic, and teamwork.
Our Method
Led by journey-level carpenters with extensive teaching experience, we believe our construction training program is second to none. As a state certified pre-apprenticeship program our students receive preferred entry status to many local construction apprenticeship programs. PYB is a licensed general contractor and a member of the US Green Building Council.
Our YouthBuild students who study construction spend half their month in the shop or on a construction jobsite, while Bridge students learn construction full time. These students learn about all facets of the construction trades, gaining hands-on experience with the latest green building and sustainable practices in excavation, concrete work, framing, finish carpentry, and more.
As our way of giving back to the community, our students build 3-4 energy efficient and affordable homes every year for low income families.
Student Success
With a long and successful history of preparing young people to work in the trades, our construction graduates are highly sought after by local employers. Over the years we have helped graduates start their career in the construction industry as carpenters, laborers, electricians, plumbers, painters, roofers, sheetmetal workers, ironworkers, heavy equipment operators, stone masons, and more. Many of our graduates now own their own companies or are foremen on their jobsites, while others are still working their way up the career ladder.
Support from PYB doesn’t stop once students complete the program. The trusted relationships that develop between students and staff extend long after their time at PYB. Construction graduates frequently check in with their career coach and construction trainers to seek career advice and support as they work towards journeying out of their apprenticeship program.
Become A Student
Construction might be the career you’re looking for. Reach out to get the application process started today.
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