Registration is open for a new pre-apprenticeship program for boat fabrication, organized by Future Job Skills of Tomorrow. Nine young men and women will have the opportunity to develop a new talent.
The program, open to individuals between 18-24 years of age, is slated to begin during the first half of October. Apprentices will have the opportunity to engage in training for nine to 12 months and experience both classroom and on-the-job training.
Future Job Skills of Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization based in St. Croix, recently completed its first pre-apprenticeship program where students had a chance to learn skills related to golf course maintenance. The organization is now collaborating with Gold Coast Yachts, a shipbuilding company and apprenticeship program on St. Croix for this new program.
Reuben Fenton, founder and director of the non-profit, said that the resources of the territory inspired the creation of the program.
“We have a blue economy, the boating industry. We’re surrounded by water and one of the demand areas for jobs is in that blue economy,” said Fenton. “We are fortunate to have a small shipbuilder in St. Croix, and they’re growing, and they’ve been sending boats all over the world.”
According to Fenton, Gold Coast Yachts is growing and they need to expand their workforce to accommodate their demand. As such, collaborating with their business was one of the driving forces for this particular pre-apprenticeship program. Fenton also added that another push for the program was to provide an alternative for individuals wanting to expand their education post high school.
“Not everybody can go to college, college is expensive,” said Fenton. “So that’s why I believe in pre-apprenticeship.”
According to Fenton, training for the program will entail apprentices learning how to mold fiberglass, getting exposed to the architectural design, completion, and launching of boats.
“Most of the boats are made out of fiberglass, so you’re talking about molding. It has carpentry, but you’re talking about molding these pieces to put all together to complete the boat,” said Fenton.
There is no fee to sign up and students will receive a stipend for training. Training will take place Mondays to Fridays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. At the end of completing the program, apprentices will be given certificates and the chance to become employed in the field.
“We’re getting people trained to stay in St. Croix,” said Fenton. “We’re starting at the pre-apprenticeship level, bringing them up so they can be in the apprenticeship program, and move on to a job in the end.”
Those persons interested in participating in the program can call or text their name and email address to 340-201-3292, or email reubenfenton20@gmail.com.
