UG2 Continues to Invest in Skilled Trades Professionals
At UG2, skilled trades don’t just support our facilities. They power our industry leadership. As HVAC and other trades face a nationwide talent shortage, we continue to lead the charge in closing the gap.
Our people-centric approach means we don’t just fill roles. We provide new and veteran trades professionals with a stable, supported career path from apprenticeship to leadership. It ensures we can continue to provide our customers with the best-of-the-best licensed technicians and skilled trades professionals.
Investing in Skilled Trades Professionals from the Start
While some competitors are only now starting to build pipelines and look outward for talent, UG2 has been doing this since the company was founded in 2012.
“We are benefitting from having founded our business with a people-first ethos, and a mission to develop the next generation of talent,” explains Andrew MacFadyen, Regional Vice President, Engineering at UG2.
The reality is that the skilled trades workforce is, on the whole, an aging population. As experienced team members retire, they’re not being replaced quickly enough. We recognized this issue, which only accelerated during the pandemic, from the start. And we’ve continued to make it our mission to develop the next generation of leaders in facility services.
In order to do that, we’ve made it our mission to attract and retain the best skilled trades talent in every market where we operate.
That’s meant never simply hiring to hire but instead identifying professionals who are looking to grow with our UG2 family.
The UG2 Training & Innovation Lab
One of the keys to helping our employees grow in their careers is ensuring the transfer of knowledge from more experienced workers to those newer to the trades. Our employees benefit from career stability while our customers benefit from technical excellence and operational consistency.
The UG2 Training and Innovation Lab is one of the ways we ensure that knowledge transfer isn’t left to chance, but happens through a proven, repeatable process. The lab’s comprehensive training program covers not only technical training, but also soft skills, customer service, and safety.
UG2 employees across the country have access to courses, including:
- Pumps, Seals and Alignment
- Building Automation Systems and Tools
- HVAC and Multi-Stack Systems
- 5-Star Customer Service Excellence
The virtual platform enables our employees to stay up-to-date on the latest technology, ensuring they are always providing industry-leading service.
“With an extensive network of regional centers of excellence across the United States, UG2 can offer our employees opportunities to transition between locations, training to advance skills,” adds MacFadyen.
For employees looking for professional development beyond the courses in our training program, tuition reimbursement is also available.
From Apprentice to Leadership
Skilled trades matter now more than ever. Every workplace relies on highly skilled, dedicated trades experts who keep facilities safe, comfortable, and operational. As systems become more technically demanding, the value of experienced, licensed technicians continues to grow.
Fortunately, UG2 is led by management who understands and values our technicians’ skills and treats them like the professionals they are.
Unlike newer apprenticeship programs launched as quick fixes, our approach comes from decades of refining career pathways and nurturing talent within our ranks.
That includes:
- Structured Growth Paths: Whether HVAC, electrical, or engineering, we invest actively in internal training and licensure progression. Talent is supported at each step, from apprenticeships to full-time careers.
- Clear Opportunities for Advancement: By recognizing talent, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in professional development, we create opportunities for employees at every level to grow into leadership roles.
- Mutual Mentorship: Knowledge, including UG2’s quality standards, flows from seasoned employees to rising talent. But it also flows the other direction, with younger generations bringing fresh ideas and perspectives, including new ways to use technology.
Are You a Skilled Trades Professional? Let’s Talk!
We aren’t building a quick pipeline. We’re building a network of leaders who will shape the industry’s future. For us, that means treating employees like family, supporting your work/life balance with flexible schedules and best-in-class benefits.
If you’re a technician or skilled trades professional we welcome you to join us in not just solving problems, but in delivering reliability across UG2 operations.