What do locksmiths, jewelers, carpenters and piano tuners have in common? Jobs that aren't outsourced to someone overseas... and accredited training available for these careers and others at North Bennet St. School (NBSS) in the city's North End.
In any economic climate, trained professionals with superior hand skills enjoy careers that are rewarding and engaging, especially for those who enjoy working creatively with their hands and engaging with clients.
Fixing an antique wedding band, helping a frantic homeowner who lost his keys, tuning the family piano or repairing a window in a Victorian triple-decker are jobs that require skilled and trusted professionals.
Emily Scott, a graduate of the jewelry making and repair program and now owner of a successful jewelry business, said "The most valuable aspect of the NBSS program was the intense, hands-on style of teaching. I wanted a skill-based career that produced tangible results and NBSS helped me achieve my goal."
Working full-time as a piano technician is fulfilling work for NBSS graduate Andy Reach. He reports that the NBSS program "provided exactly what was advertised -- skills and experience that could be directly applied to a piano-technology career - launching me on the fast track to attaining registered piano-technician status, which helped ensure a successful job search."
"If you like working with your hands, solving puzzles, working independently and helping people, you have the skills needed to be a locksmith" said Dave Troiano, head of the locksmithing program.
NBSS offers intensive, hands-on training in traditional trades and fine craftsmanship, helping students to achieve meaningful lives and livelihoods. For more than a century, the exceptional programs, master faculty and inspiring community have encouraged individual growth, curiosity, technical mastery and commitment to excellence. The school's reputation for excellence and value attracts students from around the world.
At the heart of the school are the eight full-time programs. These accredited, professional programs train students for careers in bookbinding, cabinet and furniture making, carpentry, jewelry making and repair, locksmithing and security technology, piano technology, preservation carpentry and violin making and repair. Workshops and short courses complement the full-time program and are open to everyone.
North Bennet St. School programs provide a transformative experience for people who share a passion for materials, creative work and careers that employ hand skills to produce objects that last.

Visit www.nbss.edu to learn more.