Why are co-op placements valuable for students? One employer offers his insights
Tim Beerda co-owns PRO Electric, a London-based company providing electrical, HVAC and plumbing services. For the past six years, he and his business partners have offered co-op placements to qualified LCH students interested in the skilled trades. Here’s what Tim, an LCH alumnus, says about the value of co-op programs and the benefit to employers.
“In the last 10 years or so, there’s a renewed respect and interest in the trades. When I was a high student in the 1990s, I had no opportunities for a co-op, so what schools like LCH have done to introduce students to this line of work is paying off.
“We give students a true taste of what it’s like to do the job. If there’s an out-of-town project and the team needs to be at the shop by 5:30 a.m., then co-op students are expected to do that as well. They need to know what it’s like, the good and the bad.
It’s more about character than skill
“Every student is partnered with someone who’s going to teach them. We have to start from scratch because most co-op students have never been on a construction site. They’re given safety training and instructed on the basics of the trade.
“We look for good people who care about what they do. It’s more about character than skill. We can teach the trade to almost anyone as long as they have the desire to learn. Finding students who align with who we are as a company and fit with our culture is most important.
“LCH invests so much in one-on-one relationships and in knowing each student as an individual. Those qualities mesh with how we do business, making co-op students from LCH a good fit for us.
A changing workforce
“Our workforce is constantly changing. That’s why we need to be in touch with the next generation to understand how they’re motivated and wired. Every young person is different, and we treat each of them as individuals who have something unique to offer.
“Students bring a lot of positives. They’ve grown up with so much more technology, and they’ve had to adjust more quickly to changes. In the electrical and mechanical industry, things are always on the go. The way students handle change and new technology is a plus.
“Some say young people have no work ethic or desire to learn. We’ve not seen that. Many of them come with a real interest and passion. In fact, a number of those who came as co-op students now work for us full-time.”
“Working in the skilled trades used to be the default career for anyone who couldn’t hack it in university. Not anymore.”
