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How it All Came to Be
Powered by the passionate people at NCCER, Build Your Future (BYF) was born when we saw a need to educate students about career opportunities in construction.
Beginning as a campaign in 1997, we launched BYF with promotional spots, brochures and posters — with the crowning achievement being a teleconference highlighting construction careers that was broadcast to more than 300,000 students among nearly 4,000 schools in its inaugural year.
Our team continued to work hard over the next 12 years and, in 2011, evolved the campaign into an expanded recruitment effort. As a full recruitment and image enhancement initiative, we focused on cultivating relationships and providing more resources for industry representatives. With a dedicated website, resources and even a sponsorship deal with NASCAR David Starr, our passionate people worked to arm the industry with the tools they needed to build a talent pipeline.
Identifying gaps in recruitment efforts, we began working on crosswalks between military training and NCCER credentials to help veterans find satisfying employment after transitioning. In 2014, we expanded BYF to include the Hard Hat Heroes military campaign, which offered veterans a pathway into construction by translating their military experience into industry-recognized credentials.
Gaining national reach, former first lady Michelle Obama recognized the initiative as a major contributor in developing a fast track for civilian employment.
Not content to stop there, we challenged groups such as the Human Resources Construction Council, Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable, and local user councils to match our contributions for additional scholarships.
More than 20 years after our humble beginning as a campaign with a few resources, our BYF team continues to strive to equip industry and education with what they need to reach young people and their families.
Our resources continue to evolve to fit the needs of the next generation and to promote opportunities for careers in construction.
Want to get started on a construction career pathway that aligns with your interests? Check out CareerStarter! This FREE resource supports job seekers, employers and educators interested in making connections in the construction industry.
