Bring Back the Trades fair set for May 20; partners press for stronger apprenticeship pipeline

Bring Back the Trades, a hands‑on career and recruitment fair at Castleton University on May 20, is expected to draw about 1,300 students and roughly 50 businesses, and local workforce partners said at the Rutland County Workforce Investment Board meeting April 8 that the event will be a key outreach and recruitment tool.

The event “looks like right now, we have about 1,300 students signed up to go to Castleton on May 20,” said Lyle Jepsen, executive director of the Chamber and Economic Development. Organizers plan interactive exhibits, a companion app to encourage student‑employer engagement, and on‑site demonstrations; lunch will be free and the fair is scheduled to run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Why it matters: Partners said the fair offers an immediate chance to connect employers and jobseekers while underscoring longer‑term needs in the trades and health care. Employers at the meeting described chronic recruitment and retention problems — particularly for apprentices and entry‑level skilled‑trade workers — and urged better pre‑screening and training to reduce churn and improve fit.

Discussion and specifics

Karima Edwards, senior planner at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and other partners said the Bring Back the Trades event will serve both career exploration and recruitment needs and that they plan to invite a range of community partners (technical schools, employers, public safety and military representatives) to participate. Jepsen said event organizers are seeking interactive displays rather than tabletop booths and are working to secure equipment and vehicles for students to explore.

Rob Stubbins, owner of Rob Stubbins Electrical, and other employers stressed that many applicants lack clarity about career goals and basic soft skills. “We thought that maybe they should be kinda checking their soft skills,” Stubbins said, urging early screening so employers can identify candidates who will persist through multi‑year apprenticeships.

Employers and training partners discussed tools and supports that could help. Stafford Technical Center (STC) is planning a July boot camp and courses on topics that include CDL, phlebotomy and related trades; partners also flagged x‑ray technologist and nursing positions as high demand at Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC).

“We are preparing for our, to receive our new grads…,” said Brian Kearns, vice president for the HR team at Rutland Regional Medical Center, and later added, “nursing, x‑ray techs — just really difficult.” Kearns said RRMC will host paid summer internships (10 positions, eight weeks) and is implementing candidate‑relationship software (Phenom) to better funnel applicants.

The group reviewed a small employer survey (seven employers contacted; four responses). Respondents reported an average capacity of about three participants per employer and suggested an average preparatory timeframe of roughly six weeks, although answers varied by occupation. The survey also emphasized employers’ need for candidates with commitment, punctuality and basic math and writing skills.

Federal and state programs that could expand pipelines were discussed. Wendy Morrison, regional manager for the Vermont Department of Labor, described the Department’s outreach and noted SkillBridge, the Department of Defense program that allows active‑duty service members to do employer internships during their final military months. “It’s actually an amazing program,” Morrison said, while noting there are administrative requirements and variable local uptake.

Assessment and readiness tools

Participants highlighted WorkKeys as a useful assessment tool to match applicants’ reading and math levels to job requirements. Ellen Coyle, human resources director for the City of Rutland, and others pointed to assessments as a way to better sort candidates before referral to employers or technical training programs.

Funding and program structure

Karima Edwards and other partners said the regional grant supporting the pipeline is under amendment to expand language and partners; Stafford Technical Center’s July offerings and other small cohort trainings are intended to meet year‑one deliverables while years two and three scale up participant numbers. The group also noted Vermont Community Foundation funds designated for Bring Back the Trades and other operating accounts discussed earlier in the meeting.

Stakeholder contributions and next steps

Several partners said they will follow up with targeted outreach — including inviting military, police and larger employers to bring interactive equipment and staff — and will use the May 20 event as a recurring annual outreach point. Organizers agreed to discuss meeting cadence and a possible retreat in June to finalize program design and grant deliverable timelines.

Ending

Organizers framed the May 20 fair as both an immediate recruitment opportunity and a staging point for a broader, multi‑year effort to supply better‑prepared entrants into apprenticeships and health‑care roles in Rutland County. Partners plan further meetings and outreach in advance of the Castleton event.