Building the Future Workforce: A Look Inside MTech’s Apprenticeship Program
At a time when the skilled trades industry is facing growing workforce shortages, MTech is investing in a solution that builds long-term careers: a hands-on, fully paid, daytime apprenticeship program.
Over the past year, the program has continued to grow, developing the next generation of sheet metal workers, pipefitters, plumbers, and HVAC technicians through a model designed for real-world success. 27 apprentices in the construction trades graduate on May 2nd, our largest graduating class since the start of the program in 2007. That’s something to celebrate!
A Different Approach to Apprenticeship
What sets MTech’s program apart is its structure. Unlike traditional apprenticeship models that require evening or weekend coursework, MTech integrates training directly into the workday.
Apprentices participate in:
- Full-time, paid, on-the-job training
- Structured classroom learning one full day a week, every other week
- Hands-on experience across multiple trades
This approach allows apprentices to focus fully on learning their craft, without the added burden of a financial investment or having to balance late-night classes or unpaid training.
Investing in People and in Quality
The apprenticeship program is more than workforce development, it’s a commitment to quality. Classes are taught by MTech team members who worked in the field for many years before going into teaching. By training employees from the ground up, MTech ensures that every apprentice is aligned with the company’s standards for safety, craftsmanship, culture, and professionalism. Over time, this creates highly skilled teams who are not only technically proficient but also deeply familiar with MTech’s processes and expectations.
Many of today’s field leaders began their careers in the apprenticeship program, a testament to its long-term impact and the power of sharing knowledge from generation to generation.
Meeting the Moment
As more individuals reconsider a college pathway with a significant financial burden, apprenticeship programs are gaining attention as a practical, debt-free alternative. MTech’s model reflects this shift, offering a clear path into high-demand careers without the burden of student loans. At the same time, it addresses a critical need within the industry: developing a reliable pipeline of skilled professionals.
Many of our team members, whether they are current or past apprentices, volunteer their time to connect with individuals exploring careers. They speak in high school classes, attend career fairs, host tours at our shop or job sites, and judge trade competitions, often times at the school they graduated from or the career program they participated in. Sharing their passion with the next generation is a way of giving back to the places, people, and organizations who helped them find their career path.
Rebecca, Plumbing Apprentice, visited her alma mater to help with a small PEX project, giving students hands-on experience measuring materials and making connections with industry tools. “It was an amazing experience to be the one teaching knowing I was sitting exactly where these students were just a year ago,” states Rebecca. “When I was a student, MTech came to my class and that’s what inspired me to look into working here because I could tell MTech values sharing knowledge and expertise. It’s a privilege to be able to go to school for something I am passionate about and get paid while doing it. I hope that by teaching and talking with students I can show them that there are other options out there besides going to a traditional college.”
Looking Ahead
MTech remains committed to expanding and strengthening its apprenticeship program in the years ahead. By investing in training today, the company is helping ensure that clients continue to benefit from skilled, knowledgeable teams well into the future.
