EXTON, Pa. -

A quartet of dealer groups with a presence in Pennsylvania is involved with another education program aimed at boosting the number of trained service technicians.

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Exton, Pa., recently launched what the school believes is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at developing skilled employee pipelines and giving students an inside track on rewarding long-term careers.

UTI explained its Early Employment initiative blends proven post-secondary skills education with on-the-job, apprenticeship-type training.

Under this new initiative, students can apply for jobs with participating local employers as soon as they enroll at UTI’s Exton campus. Employers registered with the program can screen and hire incoming students before they start school and provide on-the-job experience while students complete their education. Graduates who meet their employers’ criteria will receive reimbursement of school-related expenses and potentially other incentives, along with full-time employment.

“This initiative is a win for both employers and students,” UTI-Exton Campus president Bob Kessler said in a news release. “Students gain real industry experience and earn a living while they’re in school.

“Once they graduate, they have a good job with an employer they know well, who will help them pay back their tuition,” Kessler continued. “Employers have the opportunity to help train future technicians to meet their needs and fill a critical skills gap.”

UTI’s Exton campus is launching the initiative in February. Participating employers in the Early Employment program include:

— Bayshore Truck Centers
— CarSense
— Ciocca Dealerships
— Fred Beans Family of Dealerships
— Herc Equipment
— Republic Services
— Rothrock Motor Sales

UTI highlighted there will be more than 30 early employment positions available to incoming students this winter. The Exton campus is only the second of 12 campuses to offer the program. UTI started the Early Employment initiative at its Avondale, Ariz., campus last July and plans to roll it out to all UTI campuses across the country.

“The Early Employment initiative is a unique opportunity to bring together students and employers and demonstrate the benefits of a technical education,” Kessler said. “The program gives students a clear career path, bolstered by the confidence that employers are willing to invest in them from the start.”

Demand for skilled automotive and diesel technicians has never been greater. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that by 2026, there will be more than 1.2 million job openings (100,000 per year on average) in the transportation sector.

According to a 2016 survey orchestrated by the federal agency, approximately 60% of dealerships cited recruitment as their most pressing challenge.1

Student applications are now being accepted for the Early Employment program at UTI-Exton. Students must apply by Feb. 12 in order to be eligible.

For more information about UTI, visit www.uti.edu.