Go Back

Greg Crumpton lives by a simple mantra: Relationships drive business. Each week on Straight Outta Crumpton, Crumpton dives into the lost art of networking and speaks with the biggest influencers in business services to learn how they build, nurture and value their professional relationships.

MarketScale

Business Services

Building a Skilled Trades Workforce: Certifications, Simulation-Based Training & Reskilling with SkillCat

Greg Crumpton
March 31, 2025
Greg Crumpton
labor shortage
Ruchir Shah
SkillCat
+more

 

Industries across the United States are facing an unprecedented shortage of a skilled trades workforce. With millions of baby boomers retiring and fewer young people entering the trades, sectors like HVAC, manufacturing, and construction are grappling with a critical need for talent. This labor shortage is further compounded by a lack of awareness and accessible pathways into the trades. So, what’s the solution? Enter SkillCat, a platform revolutionizing how workers are trained and placed in the trades industry.

How do we bridge the gap between aspiring workers and the skilled trades jobs that are ready and waiting for them?

On this episode of Straight Outta Crumpton, host Greg Crumpton sits down with Ruchir Shah, the CEO of SkillCat, to explore how the platform is empowering workers through innovative training and recruitment. Together, they discuss the challenges of entering the skilled trades workforce, the power of reskilling, and why the skilled trades offer more rewarding careers than many traditional desk jobs.

The episode delves into…

  • SkillCat’s Innovative Approach: With over 1,500 hours of simulation-based training and certifications in fields like HVAC and plumbing, SkillCat offers a flexible, affordable pathway for people to enter the trades.
  • Addressing Awareness and Access Barriers: The platform combines online and hands-on training, creating partnerships with local contractors to provide real-world experience for users.
  • Why Skilled Trades Matter: Shah emphasizes the emotional and financial rewards of trades jobs, dispelling misconceptions and highlighting their crucial role in society.

Ruchir Shah is a four-time entrepreneur and the CEO of SkillCat, a leading online training platform that has certified over 300,000 skilled tradespeople in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliance repair. Accredited by NATE, the EPA, and IACET, SkillCat is highly rated for its simulation-based training solutions tailored to address workforce gaps in the skilled trades industry. Previously, Shah founded LearnToDrill, training over 25,000 oil and gas workers to improve safety, and spearheaded innovative ventures using AI and educational media.

Article written by MarketScale.

Recent Episodes

hvacr
View episode

Women in HVACR Are Driving Change Across the Skilled Trades

Trade school enrollment climbed 4.9% between fall 2020 and fall 2023, signaling a national shift toward skills-based careers as alternatives to four-year degrees. This modest but meaningful rebound underscores growing interest in trades like HVACR, where demand is high, but representation remains lopsided. For decades, women in the field have been overlooked despite playing…

HVAC
View episode

Turning a Career Pivot into Award-Winning Success in the HVAC Industry with Chloe Glynn

Breaking into a technical field of industrial sales without prior experience is a huge challenge. But someone like Chloe Glynn achieved such a feat and turned an accidental career pivot into an award-winning profession. As many industries continue to shift towards relationship-driven sales strategies, Glynn’s journey offers a blueprint for success in a…

HVAC
View episode

Women in HVAC: Pioneering Change in a Male-Dominated Industry

The HVAC industry is evolving, and with it, the roles within the sector are expanding beyond traditional boundaries. Amid rising tuition costs and strong demand for skilled labor, young people are increasingly choosing trade schools over a traditional college education. With such a shift highlighting the need for a more diverse workforce, the questions…

Launch Your Branded Show Today

Engage your audience with original, industry-specific content.

Book a Demo Talk to an Expert