I’m super excited to bring you today’s episode. It’s one of four in a series this month focused on blue-collar careers and the trades. If you are a loyal listener, you know that I have no issue with college but the fact is, that a college path is not the right path for everyone. As a society and as parents, we need to help empower our kids to explore all paths, including those that don’t require college. In today’s episode, I am joined by Steve Turner. Steve has spent the past 40 years working in the trades, and as a business owner for 30 of those years. He realized pretty quickly that it was becoming increasingly difficult to hire skilled workers in the trades, so he took it upon himself to start a nonprofit called Bring Back the Trades, where he provides scholarships to young people who are pursuing careers in the trades. During our conversation, Steve shares how Bring Back The Trades all started with a hat and how to get teens interested and excited about working in the trades. Steve believes, and I agree, that we need to encourage a shift in mindset to make the trades a popular choice for young people today. Steve offers lots of helpful advice for parents of teens interested in the trades.
About Steve Turner
Steve Turner started as a small business owner for the past thirty years, in the trade of custom upholstery. It has become increasingly difficult to find and hire skilled individuals due to the shortage of public, private, and vocational schools teaching the trades. Steve and his team are dedicated to promoting and educating the public of the need for skilled trades professionals. To implement their mission, Bring Back the Trades, Inc. collaborates with local educators, community leaders, and local trades businesses to change the perception of the trades within the educational system, and they award scholarships to qualified students living in the United States who are pursuing post-secondary education in a professional trade.
Steve and his team have designed a line of apparel with their logos depicting numerous trades so they can spread the word about the importance of these crucial jobs. Proceeds from the sales help fund their scholarship program in which individuals can gain access to the trade education of their choice and ultimately gain employment in that trade, which is crucial to the growth of our country.
Episode Highlights
- Steve’s non-profit, Bring Back the Trades
- It all started with a hat
- Scholarships available in every state
- In 2-3 years, 65% of tradespeople will be retiring
- Partnering with the Skilled Trade Alliance
- We need to change our mindset and make the trades popular
- Trades spokespeople whoul be young people who work in the trades
- Steve’s journey through high school and his start in the trades
- Classes in the trades help keep kids in school
- How to get teens interested in the trades
- The trades aren’t a good fit for everyone
- People in the trades work with their hands AND their brains
- There are trades jobs that don’t include working with your hands
- BBTT scholarships don’t require an essay
- We need to continue to encourage our kids interest in the trades when they get older
Resources
Bring Back The Trades Scholarship Information
Bring Back The Trades on Facebook