When you pick up the phone and call a heating and cooling company, in most cases the first thing on your mind is getting professional help to repair or maintain your home comfort system.
What might surprise you is that behind the scenes, companies including Comfort Tech Heating and Cooling are searching for ways to diversify the workforce, establishing quality career options for all walks of life.
“During the pandemic, we saw a vast majority of the baby boomer generation retire. What we noticed was a very large number retiring out of trades programs. As a result, we currently have a severe labour shortage. As various labour industries rebuild, we want to be a part of the change that allows women, immigrants and younger people the opportunity to consider HVAC as a reliable career option,” says Terri Wilkinson, Co-Owner of Comfort Tech.
With 18 years of industry experience under her belt, Wilkinson says other labour industries such as plumbing, electrical and other trades tend to be the first that come to mind for aspiring trades people.
“We have two new apprentices on staff and the young lady we just hired, she was never even told about HVAC as an option while in school, which is sad for our industry. We are reviewing the skilled trades youth program that they present in our local highschools and the HVAC trade isn’t mentioned there. A lot of trades are and I think that’s fantastic but we would like our company to get more involved in promoting HVAC as an option within the home services industry.”
In order to bridge the gap and bring more awareness towards the HVAC industry, Wilkinson and her team are visiting highschools, colleges and career fairs across Kelowna and the Okanagan, to spread the word about their line of work and the growth opportunities many are unaware of.
As it stands, HVAC companies such as Comfort Tech currently offer apprenticeship programs that allow young workers with entry level experience the opportunity to hold a quality job with a competitive starting rate.
While the apprentice is gaining hands-on experience, Comfort Tech encourages their staff to progress through their apprenticeships in order to further develop their training, allowing their rate of pay to increase as they grow with their career.
Comfort Tech also has great options for those that might want a career in HVAC, but not necessarily in the field. “Our team doesn’t only include tradespeople,” Wilkinson says. “We have some incredibly intelligent women and men in the office who are also essential to our success. There are many options available and we want to get the word out.”
If a career in heating and cooling technology interests you, Comfort Tech is hiring contact 250-258-5713 or visit their website to learn more.