DIY school TradeWorx Academy is bringing handiwork expertise to Fair Oaks Mall.
The new program is designed to teach homeowners the skills they need to tackle repair and remodeling projects or professionals honing their skills with hands-on experience.
“At TradeWorx Academy, you’ll learn from highly rated, licensed contractors who bring years of experience directly to you,” the TradeWorx website said. “Our instructors, who are active in the Northern Virginia area, are committed to teaching participants the correct methods for repair and remodeling projects — so you get it right the first time. You’ll leave our workshops with skills taught by true professionals, not hobbyists or unqualified individuals.”
The training center celebrated its grand opening on Monday (July 28). It offers a range of classes, from a $75 class on vetting home contractors to a $650 class on installing a wall panel system as part of a shower remodeling.
TradeWorx Academy General Manager Nicole Jenkins says the business was founded in response to “a nationwide shortage of skilled tradespeople.”
“Many are aging out of the industry, with far too few entering to replace them,” she said by email. “In addition to empowering homeowners through DIY education, we’re also launching career-focused programs and continuing education courses to help train and support the next generation of contractors.”
More on the labor shortage from the academy’s site:
TradeWorx Academy was born out of frustration with the shortage of qualified, skilled labor in the trades. As contractors, we’ve seen firsthand how unskilled labor can lead to costly mistakes for homeowners. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant decline in qualified tradespeople, with more professionals exiting the field than entering it. For every 50 licensed contractors leaving the industry, one new entry-level person joins the workforce. If this trend continues, the shortage of skilled labor will only worsen in the next 5–10 years, leaving homeowners vulnerable to poor workmanship and inflated costs.
TradeWorx Academy is open at 11902U Fair Oaks Mall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It’s closed on Sundays.
