Every year, millions of football fans watch the NFL Combine. It’s a chance for coaches and organizations to see the skills that players will bring to the table, and for the players to push themselves to the best of their abilities.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners took this idea and localized it to the construction industry, and we have put together an original way to get the next generation of skilled tradespeople on the job as quickly and safely as possible.
The proof is in the results. Saturday, March 21st, the Southern District UBC Training Trust Fund (SDTTF), along with the Southern District Council of Carpenters (SRCC), hosted a combine for the Nashville area. Over 60 working people interested in a career in the trades attended, and over 20 of them walked out with a job with great pay and benefits with one of Nashville’s leading contractors.
“A lot of times, people read about a certain trade and all they know is what they see on tv,” said Jimmie Jordan, Executive Director of the SDTTF. “Here we give them a chance to put their hands on some of the materials, some of the tools, and some of the basic skills.”
These hiring events and the dedication to union apprenticeships that the SDTTF and SRCC provide are coming at a time when new construction employees are sorely needed. Both combines and apprenticeships benefit potential tradespeople, and contractors looking for the next generation of construction professionals.
“There’s a pretty big gap between retirees and the people coming in. There’s all types of positions from foreman, general foreman, superintendent. The opportunities are limitless,” said Jordan.
Evan Walker from Nashville participated in the combine and felt that it was a rewarding chance to get to know the industry.
“Getting that hands-on feeling make it feel like I can go out and do this when I’m ready,” said Walker.
Lesley Alonzo also participated in the combine. According to Alonzo, not only was it a great opportunity to experience what a career in construction looks like, it was also an excellent chance for women in the trades.
“This is a great opportunity, especially for us women too,” said Alonzo. “We can do it too, we can learn new abilities, and we can accomplish a lot.”
The Nashville combine was held directly across the street from the currently under-construction Tennessee Titans stadium. There’s a reason for that, as some of the contractors present are working directly on the stadium.
Brian Coker, a superintendent with Valley Interior Systems, attended the event to interview and hire directly from the people showing their skills. Valley Interior is one of the contractors building the new Nissan Stadium.
“We’re finding and recruiting, and reaching out to do what we can to hire people who want to build a career in this industry,” said Coker. “When you can see someone doing the work, even if they don’t know how to do the work, as you speak to them, you’re looking for that coachable moment.”
Nashville has experienced significant growth over the last decade, and continues to be one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation.
“We have so many opportunities here in the Nashville market and some great signatory partners. So being able to have an event like this and to support their initiatives while growing our union is really what this event is all about,” said Kavin Griffin, Executive Secretary-Treasurer and CEO of the Southern Regional Council of Carpenters. “It’s about building our local workforce and making sure that people have an opportunity to join the middle class.” This combine is one of the first among many throughout the 11 states represented by the SRCC and SDTTF. The South continues to be the fastest growing region in the nation, and we’ll continue to work supplying the professional, experienced workforce that helps local construction companies thrive.
“This is one of our first opportunities to do something like this. With the mobility of everything, we look forward to moving this around across the 11 southern states,” said Griffin. “We have so many opportunities, whether it’s here in Nashville, the Carolinas, Central and South Florida, Texas, and all points in between. This just showcases our ability to bring people into the workforce.”