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In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, the importance of lifelong learning cannot be overstated. Whether you are a business owner, a professional, or simply an individual looking to enhance your skills and knowledge, continuous learning is essential to stay relevant and competitive. Lifelong learning allows us to adapt to new technologies and advancements while enabling personal and professional growth.

For business owners, the benefits of lifelong learning extend beyond individual development. By creating a culture of learning within your organization, you can foster innovation, creativity, and a motivated workforce. Investing in the growth and development of your employees not only improves their skills and builds confidence but also enhances their job satisfaction, leading to increased productivity and employee retention.

INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS: Creating a culture of lifelong learners and building our own training academy can pay dividends down the road. (Courtesy of Nexstar Network)

And, now here’s a thought — what if you could harness this inspiration and growth of your empowered team members onsite, at your business location? What if you could develop and offer the training and support to help fuel the future of your team, eventually nurturing a strong company culture, forging a deeper team dynamic, and building your team from the inside up?

This trend – building an in-house technical training academy – is taking off in the home services industry as business leaders recognize the need and are helping to fuel their business forward with this innovative approach.

Business Growth is Tied to Workforce Development

As we look ahead to the future, particularly in our industry, it becomes evident that business growth will be heavily reliant on workforce development. With rapid advancements in technology and an increasingly competitive global market, here in North America, it’s clear businesses need skilled and adaptable employees to thrive.

By building your own academy, as a business leader you proactively control your workforce development and ensure your employees have the necessary skills to meet the demands of the future. You can create the all-star team that will ultimately help bridge the skills gap, attract top talent, and retain your best employees. Additionally, a strong technician pipeline helps your business remain resilient even during economic downturns, as evidenced by the many success stories of our Nexstar Network members who have built their own academies.

Building Success: One Owner Who Invested in His Own Academy

In times of economic uncertainty, having a strong technician pipeline in place makes a significant difference in the success of your home services business. We see first-hand how contractors who have built their own academies are essentially recession-proof and experience substantial growth, profitability, and a winning culture, despite a tough-to-pinpoint economy.

One such leader is Mark Paup, president at Golden Rule Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, located near Des Moines, IA. Several years ago, Mark went all in and built his own academy to train and develop his workforce. By investing in the skills and knowledge of his employees, Mark continues to deliver exceptional service to homeowners, even during the recession. His academy provides his technicians with the necessary technical skills and fosters a sense of camaraderie and a commitment to excellence. As a result, Mark's business not only survived the economic downturn but thrived, becoming a market leader in his area.

Last October, Mark shared his thoughts and learnings on a NexTech Academy panel focused on this very topic. It was here that he shared a key reflection: “As business owners, we have to set the vision for the company. We have to show our teams more today than ever, what are the next steps, where are we going, and how are we getting there. For example, when you start 12 new technicians coming in, the guys above them are going to understand that eventually they are going to need 8-to-12 technicians and they are going to need another service manager. So, that growth trajectory and vision happening within the building also creates a lot of excitement.”

E-Guide Playbook Introduced as a Resource and Tool for Contractors

In the world of lifelong learning, access to resources and guidance is crucial. That's where it’s critical to understand the importance of providing the tools and support contractors need to build their own academies successfully.

A new e-guide launched late last year for our membership serves as a best practice resource, offering insights and strategies for creating a thriving academy within our members’ organizations. By leveraging our expertise and utilizing the e-guide, contractors can develop their own in-house training academy that has established the highest standards of excellence. They can learn from – and lean on – each other, sharing a vision for success.

Conclusion

The time to build your own academy is now. Lifelong learning is not only essential for personal and professional growth but also for the future success of your business. By investing in workforce development and creating a culture of learning, position your organization for long-term growth and resilience, even in the face of economic challenges. Take inspiration from the success of individuals who have built their own academies and leverage the resources and support available in our innovative industry. Together, we can build a brighter future through continuous learning and innovation.