Collaboration

AAEF serves as the facilitator to cultivate our SkillStream cohesive workforce pipeline. None of the phases that we are developing are in and of themselves unique. Many existing organizations already perform specific and necessary individual elements, like apprenticeships, exposure curricula, etc. However, in our emerging industry, they are often disparate or disconnected from each other and the next step. What is missing is the capacity for one entity to provide an eagle’s view of a community’s workforce development efforts to strategically connect them for contiguous flow. This image shows the role of our Director of Workforce Development.

We want to collaborate with you! Below you will find resources for Employers, Job Seekers, Trainers/Educators, and Community Partners.

Ready to connect on any of the below? Please reach out directly to April Ambrose, AAEF’s Director of Workforce Development at:

Employers

Workforce development in this industry starts by listening to employers to understand their hiring needs, skill gaps, training and support opportunities. AAEF member employers can expect individualized support to enhance hiring, retention, training, and other workforce needs.

AAEF supports Member companies with the following:

  • Individualized Workforce Hiring/Retention Strategy Development

  • Work-based Learning Solutions

    • Apprenticeship Development

    • Internship Development

  • Training Program Development

    • Funding

    • Curricula

    • Examples

  • Industry Collaboration via quarterly Skill Sync sector calls

    • Renewable Energy

    • Energy Efficiency

    • HVAC/Controls/Boilers

  • Coordination with licensure, rebates, career progression, etc.

  • Workforce Successes Marketing Support

  • Hiring and Retention Resources:

    • Job Fairs/Talent Networking

    • Industry Job Board

    • Job Quality Enhancement

  • Industry exposure opportunities

    • Speaking

    • Tours

    • Booths

    • Job Shadowing/Mentorship

Staff from Powers of Arkansas teaches a student about HVAC Controls
at AAEF’s 2024 EmPOWER Arkansas Expo.

Job Seekers

AAEF wants to help job seekers connect with the right resources to enjoy fulfilling careers in the industry. To do so we created the low-cost Emerging Leaders Program. Individuals who want to start their career in Advanced Energy can join AAEA as an Emerging Leader and gain access to a variety of support mechanisms.

The AAEA Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is committed to nurturing the future leaders of the advanced energy sector. We offer extensive resources, mentorship, and opportunities for growth to support emerging professionals. Our mission is to integrate students and entry-level talent in an equitable career pipeline for the advanced energy economy.

  • Industry-specific job board

  • Sector career exploration

  • Resume/Career counseling

  • Career fairs

  • Industry exposure events

  • On-the-job learning opportunities, like Apprenticeships and Internships

  • Access to training Programs

  • Employer and Industry networking events

  • Mentorship

  • Sourcing wrap-around support services

Trainers/Educators

Our in-state education institutions are preferred partners for industry training, though national partners help ensure we don’t recreate the wheel. Our collaboration enhances capacity to provide cutting-edge education for the industry.

Do you currently offer advanced energy education and are seeking candidates or employers? Or are you interested in building a new program? We can provide:

  • Exposure for your program to relevant member employers

  • Connections with our member employers to understand their skill and training needs

  • Support in integrating your training into work-based learning opportunities, like apprenticeship

  • Local and national subject matter experts to guide your program’s continued industry relevancy

  • Identify industry standards for credentials, skills, and career progressions

  • Source existing industry curricula, equipment, and qualified instructors for new program development

  • Connections to local guest speakers, project tours/field trips, mentors, job shadowing, and other experiential learning elements

  • Studies, surveys, and other metrics to show industry growth, workforce need, and impact

  • Partner to pursue collaborative funding

University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana’s Solar Program

Community Partners

There are a variety of public, private, and non-profit organizations already supporting members of our advanced energy community.

Do you already provide resources that may be helpful to our industry? Or can we help serve your community? Together we can:

  • Collaborate on grants and other funding opportunities

  • Reduce barriers to employment:

    • Enhance job quality

    • Provide worker voice

    • Connect to wrap-around support services

    • Ensure accessible on-ramps

  • Ensure ecosystem connections between related sectors

  • Participate in national conversations to share our successes and not reinvent the wheel

  • Provide industry exposure

    • Expert speakers

    • Project tours

    • Media opportunities

Apprenticely providing career coaching to a student
at the 2024 EmPOWER Arkansas Expo.