WD-40 Brand and NAPA have announced a partnership with TechForce Foundation to offer $50,000 in scholarships, aimed at bolstering a new generation of trade professionals.
Skilled trades have suffered from a gap in supply and demand for decades, according to TechForce Foundation, resulting in a significant workforce shortage.
It said that, for the first time in more than ten years, tech school completions have risen.
However, to meet demand over the next five years, the skilled trades must recruit 795,000 technicians, calculated the company.
“The automotive industry’s future depends on the education and training of today’s students,” said Jamie Walton, executive vice president, merchandising of NAPA. “This partnership with WD-40 Brand and the TechForce Foundation ensures we bring broader visibility and accessibility to technician careers.”
As of July this year, WD-40 Brand and NAPA will award 40 scholarships over a 12-month period.
Applicants must be enrolled in a post-secondary automotive, collision or diesel programme.
“WD-40 Brand recognises the critical role that the skilled trades play in driving America forward,” said Erin Bala, vice president of U.S. marketing and Americas innovation at WD-40 Company. “We are honoured to join forces with NAPA in backing TechForce Foundation and its crucial mission to champion students to and through their education into careers as professional technicians.”
“This cross-sector partnership demonstrates the value of industry coming together to demonstrate its commitment to powering the next generation of technicians,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “By combining their support, WD-40 Brand and NAPA will unlock a multiplier effect that will allow our organisations to inspire and support more students together than we ever could apart. TechForce looks forward to collaborating with our partners to connect even more students to technician careers in an industry that urgently needs their skills.”
WD-40 Brand and NAPA partner with TechForce Foundation for trade scholarships
