fbpx

Save 30% on online shipping anywhere in Canada and the US!

Metal Supermarkets Celebrates National Welding Month With $10,000 in Scholarships for Trade School Students


World’s Largest Supplier of Small-Quantity Metals Supports Students in Essential Trades

April 2, 2024 | Toronto, ON, Canada Metal Supermarkets announced the kick-off of their 3rd annual trade school scholarship program in honor of National Welding Month. Four $2,500 scholarships are to be awarded to eligible trade school students in the United States and Canada for studies in 2024.

The scholarship was established in response to the shortage of skilled trade workers across North America. For example, over 360,000 welding professionals are projected to be needed by 2026, while only 84,000 positions are expected to be filled by next year, according to the American Welding Society. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that skilled trades have millions of unfilled positions. Similarly, a Canadian government report cited that over 256,000 new apprentices are also needed in the coming years to meet the 2026 demand for skilled trades workers in Canada.

A Metal Supermarkets commissioned study also indicates that young people are not aware of potentially lucrative skilled trades careers — over 62% of high school respondents said they lacked knowledge about trade school opportunities. During National Welding Month, Metal Supermarkets is raising awareness about this growing deficit of skilled trade workers by offering scholarships to the next generation of trade industry workers.

Boosting Career Education for Trade Industries

Metal Supermarkets is providing trade school students with financial support in the form of a scholarship to help continue their education and grow their knowledge in their chosen field. This valuable financial aid is offered in response to the desperate need for skilled trade careers, and to combat the nationwide shortage of skilled trade workers.

“With the third year of our scholarship, we are striving to continue to support students who are pursuing careers in the valuable trade industries,” said Stephen Schober, President and CEO of Metal Supermarkets. “We are also pleased to see more diversity in the traditionally male-dominated trades, as over 35% of our past scholarship winners are female. Yet there is still a growing need for these essential skilled trade workers, and Metal Supermarkets remains committed to fostering awareness of trade industry careers for young people.”

Metal Supermarkets Scholarship Application Process

To qualify for the scholarship, students must be accepted to and currently attending a post-secondary trade school program with a semester beginning in 2024 and must be enrolled in the upcoming semester. The scholarship is open to citizens, permanent residents and resident aliens legally residing in the United States or Canada with a High School Diploma, GED or equivalent.

Scholarship applications can be submitted online at https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/trade-school-scholarship/ now through June 28, 2024. Metal Supermarkets will contact each winner by email and phone by July 31, 2024 using the contact information provided by the entrant during the application process.

For further information: John Swinimer, Senior PR & Communications Specialist | (905)-362-8226 ext. 9985 | [email protected]


Metal Supermarkets

Metal Supermarkets is the world’s largest small-quantity metal supplier with over 130 brick-and-mortar stores across the US, Canada, and United Kingdom. We are metal experts and have been providing quality customer service and products since 1985.

At Metal Supermarkets, we supply a wide range of metals for a variety of applications. Our stock includes: mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, tool steel, alloy steel, brass, bronze and copper.

We stock a wide range of shapes including: bars, tubes, sheets, plates and more. And we can cut metal to your exact specifications.

Visit one of our locations today.

Related blog articles

Shopping from the UK?

Visit our UK website for our stores, online ordering and product availability.