Participating businesses are able to recruit and screen potential employees, reduce employee turnover by hiring program graduates, help develop skill standards geared to industry needs and improve community relations by helping local youth with employment and education. The average high school student often cannot afford not only the tools to learn the trade, but also a teacher to learn from. As its portion of the partnership, Ayres Chevrolet donates its facility, equipment, tools and time. The students attend class with an instructor one night each week. They attend lectures, work hands-on and complete assigned homework.
Tests are oral, written and hands-on.
Students are placed at businesses near their homes for work assignments where they become employees of service stations, dealerships or related businesses where they are partnered with an employee. The employee acts as a mentor as the student continues to practice and learn on the job. It is probably the first job they've had and we are able to teach more than just the technical end of it. The job includes non-technical issues including work ethics, communication, attendance, quality of work and the importance of constantly continuing to learn new techniques. Students interested in the program must have approval from parents, the school and teachers.