Polaris - Taking STEPS to Future-Proof Dealerships
Polaris introduces the Service Technician Education Program (STEP) with Central Lakes College and leading powersports dealer Power Lodge. A $1m grant to the Minnesota college will bridge the skills gap and create job opportunities in rural counties and underserved communities.
Polaris has announced the development of an innovative on-the-job training curriculum for upskilling and training powersports technicians.
The Service Technician Education Program (STEP), which "leverages new connected vehicle technology to rapidly scale and grow the necessary future technician labor force, is in partnership with Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd, Minn., and leading powersports dealer Power Lodge CLC received a $1m grant to fund the program."
With the powersports and marine industries seeing tremendous growth in 2020, due in large part to more people looking for new and different ways to enjoy the outdoors, there has been an increased demand on dealerships tasked with helping to care for and maintain the vehicles.
Serving as a pilot, the STEP program is being developed to help solve this challenge by connecting student technicians to hands-on, in-dealership experience at a Power Lodge dealership while they complete their educational training at CLC. Students will be paid for their work as student technicians when working for the dealership as part of a new career pathway into the industry.
"This program is about building a connection between powersports businesses and students who have chosen powersports as their career. STEP brings new life to powersports and marine programs offered at colleges like CLC while strengthening this industry as a relevant and meaningful career path that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion," said Bridget McLennan, Polaris Vice President, Dealer Services.
Polaris, CLC and Power Lodge expect to train 80 student technicians and an additional 89 staff over the course of the grant, many of whom will be hired upon graduation.