Press Releases
Vermont Works for Women is celebrating National Women in Construction Week by preparing for the 2026 slate of its Trailblazers program.
Trailblazers is a free training that prepares women and gender-expansive individuals ages 18-plus for careers in construction and the trades. Through seven weeks of hands-on learning, participants build skills, gain confidence, and explore career fields that are traditionally dominated by men. Trailblazers is a registered pre-apprenticeship with the Vermont Department of Labor and concludes with a paid on-the-job internship with a local employer.
Nationally, women make up only 4% of all construction trade workers. Vermont Works for Women has been working for decades to support women seeking careers in fields such as carpentry, HVAC, and electrical work. Since the start of Trailblazers in 2019, Vermont Works for Women has trained 237 women and gender-expansive individuals — many of whom have begun careers in the trades because of the program.
“Trailblazers is incredibly impactful for participants,” shared Robina Moyer, VWW’s Trailblazers program manager. “Beyond building technical skills, participants gain a better understanding of the types of jobs available in the trades and the confidence to pursue them.”
Vermont Works for Women has employer partners across the state that host Trailblazers for on-the-job internships and benefit from the opportunity to recruit skilled and ready-to-work graduates. All Trailblazers employer partners are provided training on inclusive workplace practices and policies, ensuring that all employees, regardless of identity, have the opportunity to be successful.
For more information or to apply to Trailblazers, see vtworksforwomen.org/trailblazers. Businesses and organizations that would like to partner with Trailblazers should reach out to Robina Moyer at rmoyer@vtworksforwomen.org
