More Than Technical Training: Investing In The Whole Person

The final day of both our June and July Blitz cohorts looked a little different this year.

Instead of conduit, code books, and circuitry, our apprentices spent time focused on two subjects that will impact them for the rest of their careers: financial wellness and mental health.

To kick things off, our partners at Morrow Financial delivered a customized Financial Literacy 101 course designed by our team and theirs, specifically for Marathon apprentices. Through practical worksheets and open discussion, apprentices learned the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, debt management, and making informed financial decisions. It was a valuable reminder that building a successful career also means building healthy financial habits early on.

We also had the privilege of welcoming George Nash, 2018 National Chair of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), who traveled to Birmingham to facilitate a VitalCog seminar on mental health awareness and suicide prevention in the construction industry. Construction continues to face one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. While conversations surrounding mental health have become more common in recent years, George challenged our apprentices to think about the topic from a different perspective.

One statement, in particular, resonated with everyone in the room:

"We should look at mental health training the same way we look at CPR training."

Most of us hope we never have to perform CPR. In fact, many people will go their entire careers without ever using it. Yet we recognize its importance because, in the moment it's needed, that training has the potential to save a life. That is an ROI with unmatched value.

The same is true for mental health awareness.

Knowing how to recognize when someone may be struggling, having the confidence to start a conversation, and understanding where to direct them for help can have an immeasurable impact. We hope these are skills our apprentices never have to use, but if they do, they could make all the difference.

We believe developing exceptional tradespeople means investing in the whole person. Technical knowledge will always be at the heart of what we do, but so are the life skills that help our employees build healthy careers, strong families, and supportive teams.

We're grateful to Morrow Financial and George Nash for investing in our apprentices and helping us close out Blitz with conversations that matter just as much as the technical training itself.