How our virtual classrooms are supporting employees now and into the future
Despite stay-at-home orders and social distancing due to COVID-19, the operations and maintenance (O&M) employees at UG2 still have robust opportunities to expand their skills, thanks to virtual classrooms. Recently rolled out on June 24th, the first virtual class of O&M employees from across the country “attended” training held in Massachusetts, demonstrating that physical distance doesn’t have to be a barrier to learning.
Employees were able to access a breadth of knowledge about Chilled Beam Technology in this three-hour training. This is just the start of a rich, ongoing offering that will continue to drive efficiencies, innovation, and knowledge.
Although this was the launch of virtual training, it’s an extension of the existing facilities maintenance UG2 Training & Innovation Lab. This Lab features, a new, state-of-the-art facility designed to help the company expand its workforce at a time when many companies are competing for talent, particularly in the skilled trades. Located in UG2’s Natick, Massachusetts location, it’s quickly become part of the Company’s multi-tiered approach to talent development of those who we call PHDs: passionate, hardworking, and dedicated.
“In today’s tight labor market, combined with an aging skilled trade workforce, it’s critical to invest in our team,” says Jim Lane, SVP, Operations & Maintenance at UG2. “This training lab has been helping us build our team the right way and ensure that we create a sustainable program for talented O&M employees.”
The Training & Innovation Lab helps transfer knowledge from more experienced workers to those new in the trade, and also enables entry-level employees to advance their careers with new skills, including qualifying for licensed certifications. Curriculum includes courses on topics like HVAC and multi-stack systems, customer service skills, building automation systems, and more.
Since it was launched, the Lab has allowed UG2 to offer advanced technologies through comprehensive training; the launch of the virtual classroom is just one more way that the Lab stands out as a driver of continuous process improvement.
At UG2, we’re dedicated to ensuring that our employees get the professional development they need, in a way that benefits clients and drives performance. We encourage all employers to make the most of this time with similar virtual initiatives that can keep us all moving forward, and connecting in meaningful ways.