St. Louis, Mo., November 19, 2019 – S. M. Wilson & Co. introduces a new construction career education program, SKILLED as of November 2019. SKILLED’s mission is to “Inspire the future of construction”.
The three-pronged program supports individuals from all experience levels, from Pre-K students to workforce professionals, to Discover, Develop and Elevate their skills in the construction industry. Through SKILLED, S. M. Wilson will provide the educational framework to teach, mentor and inspire in three ways:
- Discover – Introduce opportunities for PreK-12th grade students, including construction career paths, hands-on STEAM activities and construction site field trips
- Develop – Offer career-ready internships, career fairs, career training and mentorship
- Elevate – Support the internal professional growth of employees through continued job training, team building, development programs and advancement opportunities
As labor shortages continue, SKILLED aims to strengthen the industry through education and public awareness by providing the tools to yield a more knowledgeable workforce.
“A decline in qualified craft workers sparked S. M. Wilson to create a program that would impact our industry in a positive way. SKILLED brings construction into the classroom and beyond by providing the foundational knowledge and skills for a successful career in the A/E/C industry,” says S. M. Wilson President, Amy Berg.
By creating a common framework for construction career education, the program will provide hands-on opportunities to integrate academic learning and focus on future employment as carpenters, electricians, machinery workers and more.
S. M. Wilson is proud to kick off our formal Discover phase of SKILLED with Hallsville School District this fall. Students will be learning the real-world applications of a construction project through site tours of their Primary School gym and classroom additions throughout the school year. Seeing the physical job completed in real-time with the guidance of the S. M. Wilson project team will give students the unparalleled introduction to what their future in construction might entail. Additionally, plans for construction career presentations and STEAM construction activities for middle and primary school students are underway.
S. M. Wilson is a full-service construction management, design/build and general contracting firm with headquarters in St. Louis. For nearly 100 years, S. M. Wilson has provided a complete range of services and has become one of the leading general construction and construction management firms in the St. Louis area. The employee-owned company is dedicated to going above and beyond expectations for their clients by putting people first. In 2018, S. M. Wilson posted $194 million. For more information, visit www.smwilson.com.