In a little over one month since it launched, WrenchWay is excited to announce they now have over 100 schools, and over 1,000 shops and dealerships using the new School Connect platform.
WrenchWay School Connect is a free tool that makes it easier for schools to get the resources they need to attract more young students to technician programs and educate them about the industry.
“Everyday we are adding more features to School Connect to make it easier for schools and industry to communicate,” says Mark Wilson, CEO, WrenchWay. “We are learning that oftentimes, neither schools or industry realize the resources they need or can offer to each other — we are here to help.”
School Connect is open for all shops and dealerships to use. Likewise, schools of any size, with or without an automotive or technician program, can sign up. Even small high schools that don’t offer a dedicated automotive class can benefit from things like bringing in a shop owner or technician to talk about what it’s like working in the industry, or having a small engine to dig into during a tech ed class.
School Connect is super easy to use. Once users sign up for a free account:
- Schools can post requests for anything they could use to help improve their programs.
- Shops and dealerships can also post any resources they have available to local schools who are interested.
- Schools and shops can scan the list of available resources and open requests, and message back and forth on the platform to ask questions and coordinate logistics.
“A couple of cool connections have been made between schools and shops so far. For example, Diagnostic Network is doing a virtual training for schools and Maple Hill Auto Group is doing a virtual tour showing students each station a car goes through when it comes to their dealerships,” says Christen Battaglia, Director of Strategic Partnerships, WrenchWay. “Through School Connect, shops and dealerships have the ability to help out not only local schools, but schools across the entire country.”
This is only the beginning for the WrenchWay School Connect platform. “The feedback so far has been amazing from both schools and industry,” Wilson explains. “Our goal at WrenchWay is to help solve the technician shortage we’re seeing across the country. It takes several groups working together to create the change we need. We are committed to continue to invest in programs such as School Connect and to build out new features which help to accelerate that change.”
