Wolverine Boots started Project Bootstrap to advocate for the skilled trades. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, Project Bootstrap works to break down common misconceptions around the skilled trades industry, while supporting and inspiring the next generation of skilled trades workers in effort to close the trades gap.
Did you know?
Most students think skilled trades are a good career option, but just 16% are very likely to consider it*
* (Stanley Black & Decker, 2022)
There will be a deficit of over 6.5 million skilled trades workers over the next decade.*
* https://www.kornferry.com/content/dam/kornferry/docs/pdfs/ KF-Future-of-Work-Talent-Crunch-Report.pdf
Only 9% of high school students are pursuing careers in the trades.*
* https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/with-only-9- percent-of-high-school-students-pursuing-careers-in-the-trades- wolverine-signs-team-wolverine-to-champion-america-s-skilled- trade-workers-1027727422
Our partners
SkillsUSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing middle-school, high-school and college students for careers in the skilled trades industry. Since 2020, Wolverine has been a supporter of the SkillsUSA Hope Fund, an initiative that offers financial support to students in crisis.
In 2023, Wolverine and SkillsUSA partnered for National Signing Day, an event dedicated to celebrating high-school seniors who have committed to pursuing an education in the skilled trades.
SIGNING DAY 2023 VIDEO LEARN MORE ABOUT SKILLSUSA
YouthBuild is a nonprofit organization that helps young people between the ages of 16 and 24 get their high school diploma or equivalent, while also earning a construction certificate and learning other life skills.
Since 2021, Wolverine has supported YouthBuild Grand Rapids with product and financial donations. They were the our 2023 Mentor Month feature, which highlighted the importance of mentorship and the opportunities the skilled trades have to offer. Additionally, Rockford based Wolverine staffers have the opportunity to volunteer along side YouthBuild students.
WATCH THE MENTOR MONTH VIDEO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTHBUILD
A part of Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, Metallica Scholars is a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to individuals pursing a skilled trade education. Wolverine has supported Metallica Scholars since 2020 through exclusive product collaborations, financial and in-kind donations.
SHOP THE WOLVERINE x METALLICASCHOLARS COLLECTION LEARN MORE
Wolverine has been a proud supporter of the mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship since 2017, a program working to close the skilled trades gap by providing financial assistance for hardworking high-school graduates entering into a vocational program.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MIKEROWEWORKS
unCommon Construction is a nonprofit organization that works with high school apprentices to build houses and gain technical, professional and personal skills. Wolverine partnered with unCommon Construction in 2022 with a special-edition collaboration collection where all proceeds benefited high school students interested in pursuing careers in the skilled trades.
SHOP THE COLLECTION LEARN MORE ABOUTUNCOMMON CONSTRUCTION
