STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding out of Sturgeon Bay and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College are working together to help fulfill the company’s need for welders. After seeing the success of a training program, which was launched last fall, the two organizations agreed to extend their partnership.
The latest group of students are about to complete their five-week welding training course at NWTC’s Sturgeon Bay campus. NWTC is teaming up with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding to train people, with little to no experience, for entry level jobs at Fincantieri’s Sturgeon Bay shipyard.
Since launching the program back in the fall of 2022, NWTC has had more than a hundred students complete the program and then start working for Fincantieri.
The success of the six-month pilot program, and continued needs in the industry, led to the partnership being expanded another 12-months.
The program has the ability to train up to 16 people per session but could expand to two cohorts if needed.
According to Jim Draeger, NWTC dean of corporate training and economic development, “There’s a need for upscaling the workforce. The maritime industry in Wisconsin has been here for generations and we need more workers to get upscaled quickly.”
Forty hours a week, for five weeks the students, are actually paid, by Fincantieri, to go through the basic welding training. Those with no experience are making about $19/hour. Pay is a bit higher for those with experience.
Only about 10% of the training is in a classroom, the other 90% is hands-on learning in the lab.
Students are run through the paces, so when they complete the program they’re ready to work at the shipyard – with opportunities to grow.
“Entry level welding position a person is expected to report for work, be assigned a job and work with minimal supervision where they need a base of knowledge to operate independently,” says NWTC trainer Matt Goll.
It’s knowledge, students say helps them build confidence for when they do get to work.
“Take the chance. It’s just five weeks and it’s straight to work. You get everything you need to learn in here,” says Rafael Soto, a student in the program.
The expansion of the welding program is just the beginning of this partnership. As needs change in the shipbuilding industry NWTC hopes to partner with Fincantieri in other trades too.
Jim Draeger adds, “We’re looking to potentially expand into electrical training, more pipefitting, maybe some machining. Right now, we’re looking at the options on how we can meet the need beyond the welding and the pipefitting.”
The next session of the training is set to begin on July 21.
Fincantieri and NWTC are still looking for people to apply for the welding program.
Visit the Fincantieri careers website and search for “welder in training.”
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