Southside Mechanical Services of Danville welcomed a new cohort of plumbing and HVAC apprentices on Friday, Jan. 16, marking another milestone in its long-standing partnership with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program.
Southside registered nine apprentices across two tracks: plumbing and HVAC. After launching a plumbing apprenticeship program with support from IALR’s ExTRA program in 2022, the company recently added HVAC as a program track. Southside Mechanical Services was one of IALR’s first apprenticeship employer partners and has found apprenticeships to be a successful tool for attracting and retaining talent.
“When you, as an employer, invest in your workforce, you see huge returns,” said Justin Hylton of Southside Mechanical Services. “I can’t speak highly enough of all the help we have received in getting our apprenticeship programs started.”
Southside’s plumbing apprenticeship requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and four semesters of related technical instruction, a four-year journey that prepares apprentices for high-demand careers in the region. One member of the 2022 group recently transitioned from apprentice to journeyworker after completing the program and securing a nationally recognized credential. The new HVAC track will provide the same blend of hands-on experience and classroom-based training.
IALR’s ExTRA program helps employers across Southern Virginia design and implement state-registered apprenticeship programs. Registered apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training, related technical instruction and a clear path to a nationally recognized credential that demonstrates journeyworker-level skill.
“This apprenticeship program is part of a larger effort to provide people with opportunities to gain valuable skills while addressing workforce needs in key industries,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator at IALR. “By helping employers implement these programs, we ensure apprentices receive high-quality training while strengthening the local economy.”
Since 2022, ExTRA has supported the registration of more than 148 apprentices and 43 apprenticeship programs, with many more in development. The initiative focuses on increasing apprenticeship opportunities in construction, healthcare, early childhood education, manufacturing and information technology, while also supporting employers in other fields like automotive and hospitality. As a state apprenticeship intermediary approved by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, IALR provides technical assistance, program development support and access to grant funding that helps offset related technical instruction costs for employers. For small businesses like Southside Mechanical Services, that support shortens the path from interest to implementation.
Businesses that are interested in developing a registered apprenticeship program can visit the goextra.org website or contact Apprenticeship Coordinator Natori Neal at 434.766.6657 or Natori.Neal@ialr.org.
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
