Holliston, MA The importance of apprenticeship cannot be understated, and it will continue to have a profound impact on the future of the construction industry. A leading electrical subcontractor throughout New England and the Southeast for more than 45 years, Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric), recognizes the significant hand that apprenticeship has had in its success. Through the company’s in-house Apprenticeship Training Program, Griffin Electric has helped develop a workforce of future industry leaders, while also ensuring its own team is well equipped with highly skilled craftspeople.

With this year’s apprenticeship school year coming to a close at Griffin Electric, the company recently held an Apprentice Competition at its Holliston headquarters and each of its regional office locations in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. The hundreds of apprentices enrolled in the program across the company participated in this friendly competition, which tested skills, knowledge, and teamwork through a series of events. This was designed as a fun opportunity for students to work together in teams and showcase what they have learned throughout the year.

All teams took turns rotating at different activity stations, with chances to earn points throughout the day based on performance. The majority of these stations were hands-on focused and designed to test skills, including pipe bending, a snap circuit challenge, and racecar rally, as well as laying out conduit points and installing branch circuits. Trivia-based stations included Jeopardy and a Break the Code game, while a tailgating station contained a series of physical and mental challenges such as axe throwing and stacking cups against the clock. All apprentices also attended a vendor presentation about the importance of fall protection.

One of the highlights of the day was the build a bike station, which required every team to work together to assemble children’s bicycles. All 60 bikes that were assembled by apprentices during the competition day were donated to several local charities, along with helmets. Giving back to the community has long been ingrained in the culture at Griffin Electric, and the company was proud to be able to infuse an act of service into the day’s events.

The competition closed out with an awards ceremony and a barbecue luncheon. Prizes were awarded to the top scoring teams based on results across the stations throughout the event. Additionally, raffle prizes were drawn at random to both apprentices and instructors of the program in recognition of their efforts in finishing another school year. Apprentices put in a great deal of hard work throughout the year, balancing a full-time workload during the week on top of classes and schoolwork. The company also understands that instructors and other employees involved behind the scenes have helped make the program the success that it is today. Teaching, mentoring, and developing apprentices cannot happen without this dedicated team of men and women who are so deeply invested in helping shape these students into electricians and telecom technicians.

Fully accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Griffin Electric’s program is a debt-free alternative option to traditional schooling. Apprentices enrolled in the program are encouraged to “Learn Your Trade. Build Your Future” as they acquire a wealth of experience through a mix of classroom instruction, hands-on training, and on-the-job learning. Over the four-year program, apprentices acquire 600 hours of classroom and hands-on learning, as well as 8,000 on-the-job hours by working on the company’s more than 250 active job sites across New England and the Southeast. The company strives to expose its apprentices to a range of learning opportunities and diverse types of projects so they are well-rounded and prepared for successful careers. The many students who have acquired their licensure over the past three decades, the overwhelming majority of whom have done so on their first attempt, is a testament to the comprehensive and well-balanced learning environment that the program fosters for its participants.

Griffin’s apprentices earn excellent compensation and receive full benefits, and are also eligible for wage increases every six months, based on grades and work performance. As an approved training site by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, through employment with Griffin Electric and satisfactory participation and progress in its program, veterans may be entitled to receive a monthly stipend from the VA through the Post-9/11 GI Bill in addition to company employment benefits.

If you have the desire, drive, and talent to start on the journey toward a fulfilling and lucrative career, the Apprenticeship Training Program at Griffin Electric may be the place for you. From apprenticeship through project management, and every position in-between, all Griffin employees are empowered and supported in the pursuit of their career, personal, and educational goals.

For more information about the company and its employment opportunities, visit waynejgriffinelectric.com, call its recruiting hotline at 800-421-0151, or email your resume to: fieldrecruiting@wjgei.com.