As more and more baby boomers reach retirement age, the need to boost and rebuild the skilled trades workforce in Hampton Roads becomes dire.
It’s vital to attract and retain underrepresented groups — primarily women — to create a more inclusive, innovative and resilient workforce as a construction building boom lingers on the horizon.
That is why Newport News-based Ferguson, a 70-year-old distribution company specializing in plumbing supplies, waterworks and fire and fabrication products, has partnered with Women in Plumbing and Piping as a founding sponsor. The Colorado-based nonprofit, launched in November, connects women to the plumbing and piping industries and empowers them by providing mentorship, education, networking and recognition.
Melissa Hazelwood, Ferguson’s director of social impact, said the company already has Ferguson Cares, an internal program with initiatives that foster community, empowerment and growth.
“At the heart of it is truly the skilled trades,” she said. “We’ve focused our efforts at the K through 12 level to rebuild that pipeline.”
For the past 20 to 30 years, children have been told that the only path to success is through college, Hazelwood said. While it is a path, it is not every child’s path, she said.
Hazelwood also stressed that the timing to enter the skilled trades has never been better.
“With the recent federal investments in upgrading our country’s infrastructure, available training and just the sheer volume of career openings, the opportunities for women are limitless,” she said.
Courtesy photo
Melissa Hazelwood, Ferguson’s director of social impact (Courtesy photo)
Kim Gill, Women in Plumbing and Piping’s executive director, said in a news release that more women are joining the trades, but less than 4% of women work as plumbers and pipefitters.
“There’s a real opportunity to close the skilled labor gap by creating awareness of these fulfilling careers, recruiting women into them and then supporting these women to keep them engaged,” Gill said.
Ferguson is already starting to see some progress and is hopeful that at the end of the day, there will be a shift, Hazelwood said.
“I love that we are encouraging so many kids and young women to get involved, get their hands dirty and provide them with opportunities to engage,” she said.
For more information, visit womeninplumbandpipe.org.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
www.pilotonline.com
https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/10/31/newport-news-ferguson-women-in-plumbing-nonprofit/
