If you’re reading this, you probably already know the many benefits of offering a registered glazier apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship can be an effective employee recruitment and retention tool; it provides consistent, documentable training; it gives access to public works projects requiring a ratio of apprentices to journeymen; and it now comes with tax benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act.
But what about the time, money and staff an apprenticeship program requires? None of these factors are to be taken lightly, but they might not be the obstacles you think to starting or joining a program. In states where glazier apprenticeship programs already exist, your commitment as a company owner is to give installers the time necessary to complete their classwork—on MyGlassClass.com and in the lab—provide them with on-the-job training that aligns with their apprenticeship learning and pay them appropriately. If glazier apprenticeship hasn’t come to your state yet, the staff at NGA are here to help, from getting your program approved by the state, to enrolling your apprentices in the NGA Glazier Apprentice Curriculum, to training your staff to administer and track your program. Is it a time commitment? Yes. Is it one worth making? I think so.
And thanks to generous donations to the NGA Foundation, most notably from FHC, your costs can be minimal. As long as funds are available, the Foundation covers 100% of curriculum costs—up to $2200 per apprentice—to help ensure companies of all sizes have access to apprenticeship. So, what are you waiting for? Email me today to get more information and let’s get started!