From Left: Jenna Sturrock, Matt Fuhr, Nicole Hildebrand, David Crilly, Morgan Skinner, Kevin Breti, Keshaun McRae, Laura Hart, Jennifer O’Hearn, Georgina Hopps, Peter Ashcroft and Ken Van Der Starren.
The demand for construction workers is soaring and so too is the demand for apprentices. Mainroad Group company, MRC Total Build, a Lower Mainland general contracting company, is filling the gap with paid internships in construction for Surrey Schools Learning Centre youth.
In January, 2016, MRC Total Build launched a mentorship pilot program with Surrey Schools District Career Education offering high school students the opportunity to explore a career in trades. Students were teamed up with a Total Build mentor at a project site where they wore a green hard hat to identify them to the entire crew as a “student worker” so everyone was looking out for their safety.
The mentorship provides students with meaningful, hands-on work experience including specific training to use power and hand tools, and exposure to various construction equipment and site operations. Students learn employability skills such as time management, communication skills and the importance of safe work practices. The program enables students to make more informed career choices while for others it can confirm their interest in a trades career.