West Virginia Women Work Pre-apprenticeship skilled trades training for women

Equity. Enrichment. Education. Empowerment.

We empower women with essential job skills training, paving the way for promising careers. At the same time, we partner with employers to cultivate a work environment that fosters women’s success. Join us in this transformative journey and together let’s build a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.

Who We Are

Founded in 2000, West Virginia Women Work, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, strives to help women in West Virginia earn a living wage.

What We Do

The primary focus of the organization’s activities is to help women explore, train, and secure employment in nontraditional occupations, especially the skilled trades.

What We Offer

We offer pre-apprenticeship training in construction and manufacturing, mentorship, and workforce support to businesses, unions, and organizations that employ or serve women.

How You Can Help

Our work is fully powered by grants and generous donations. Each dollar we receive is directly invested into our transformative programs. By donating or sponsoring a scholarship, you can play a pivotal role in empowering a woman today. Join us in making a difference.

What's New at West Virginia Women Work

Introducing the SAFE Program: Elevating Workplace Standards for West Virginia’s Industries

Welcome to a new chapter in workplace excellence with the launch of West Virginia Women Work’s SAFE Program. Designed to meet the unique needs of West Virginia’s blue-collar and paraprofessional sectors, including construction, extraction, and manufacturing, our program is here to transform your workplace. SAFE focuses on enhancing safety, ensuring a respectful work environment, and fostering a culture of fairness and support across all levels of your organization. Discover how our tailored approach can help your company not only comply with essential safety regulations but also thrive by setting new benchmarks in operational success. Join us in leading the way to a safer, more productive future.

Discover the Difference: Schedule Your SAFE Consultation Today!

West Virginia Women Work Selected as Lowe's Gable Grant Recipient

Lowe's Foundation Awards Over $6 Million in Gable Grants to Innovative Community-Based ...
/PRNewswire/ -- The Lowe's Foundation has selected 10 community-based nonprofits as Gable Grants recipients to enhance their innovative skilled trades training...

Empower Your Future with Step Up for Women Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

Are you ready to make a bold move towards a fulfilling career? Looking for an opportunity that offers both professional development and hands-on experience? Look no further! At West Virginia Women Work, we're dedicated to helping women step into rewarding careers in construction and manufacturing.

Our Step Up for Women Pre-Apprenticeship Programs have been specially designed to equip you with the essential job skills and practical training required in today's dynamic work environment. Experience the thrill of mastering new techniques in real-world settings, and gain a comprehensive understanding of your chosen field, all under the guidance of our expert instructors.

Whether you're interested in constructing the future or crafting innovative products, our programs will prepare you to succeed and thrive. You're not just gaining a skill - you're building a brighter future and solidifying your place in an industry that values your contributions.

We are accepting applications for both Step Up for Women Construction (12-weeks, classes start August 2024, Morgantown & Charleston, WV) and Step Up for Women Manufacturing (10-weeks, classes start August, 2024. Charleston, WV). This is more than just an opportunity, it's a transformative step towards a rewarding career path. Apply now and get ready to Step Up with us.
Charleston Step Up for Women Program Coordinator Nichole Stephenson

WVWW Awarded Power of Performance Putting People to Work Award

West Virginia Women Work proudly accepted the Power of Performance Putting People to Work Award this past Wednesday. Pictured is our Charleston Step Up for Women Program Coordinator Nichole Stephenson. Nichole goes above and beyond to find women in WV non-traditional jobs where they can earn a living wage.

In the Media

Lowe’s Foundation Celebrating and Uplifting Women in Construction Through Gable Grants
Lowe’s Foundation Celebrating and Uplifting Women in Construction Through Gable Grants
How this West Virginia trade program is tackling the gender pay gap
Nearly 4% of women make up the pool of construction workers. One pre-apprenticeship program being funded by a non-profit in West Virginia is advocating for more women in a male-dominated industry. ...
Join us as we speak with Carol Phillips, Executive Director of West Virginia Women Work (WVWW), a nonprofit empowering women in fields like construction and ...
West Virginia Women Work receives a $30,000 grant from Truist Foundation - West Virginia Daily News
MORGANTOWN, W.Va., (WVDN) – West Virginia Women Work (WVWW) is excited to announce a $30,000 grant from Truist Foundation to fortify our PartnerUp Mentoring Program. This pivotal funding will ...
As West Virginia invests in manufacturing and construction, some women are training for these ...
Women in the Mountain State are estimated to make $483,000 less than men over the course of a lifetime. Closing the gap is a complex task – but certain jobs
ACE Women Focused CNC Training
America's Cutting Edge (ACE) is FREE online and in-person CNC machine training. Open to all, ACE is trying to attract traditionally underserved groups in U.S...
Helping Women Work in Non-Traditional Jobs
Much of the workforce is made up of women and much has been done to improve and boost the conditions for them. Carol Phillips, Executive Director of West Virginia Women Work, tells host Tate ...

See more of West Virginia Women Work in the media.

Partner Spotlight

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Jason Davis of Kyumei Ju-Jitsu. He came to our North Central(Morgantown, WV) location and taught our Step Up for Women Construction Students about self-defense and self-awareness. The class was very empowering for the women and we are very excited to work with Jason again in the near future here and at our Charleston, WV location.

Jason Davis from Kyumei Ju Jitsu teaching our Step Up for Women Construction students self-defense.

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to our amazing partner Service Wire. They allowed our Kanawha Valley Step Up for Women Construction Students to visit and tour their facilities last week. They truly are an amazing company.

SUFW students on a site tour at Service Wire.

A special THANK YOU to these great partners who took the opportunity to support our mission!

Our Programs

WVWW currently offers two Department of Labor-recognized quality pre-apprenticeship programs with locations in Charleston, WV & Morgantown, WV. As we continue to grow, we hope to add more programs and locations in the very near future. Be sure to follow us on social media & subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Pre-apprenticeship skilled trades training
Step Up for Women Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Charleston & Morgantown, WV)
Woman working in machine shop
Step Up for Women Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Charleston, WV)
PartnerUp Mentoring Program
BARRIERSBLACK
No Barriers Alliance

EEO Compliance

*WV Women Work can help RAPs and employers comply with universal outreach and recruitment requirements of the apprenticeship EEO regulations. For more information visit: https://westvirginiawomenwork.org/technical-assistance

What Employers are Saying

"In the construction industry and in our local job market, there is a high demand for construction workers in general, but women, in particular, are under-represented. The WV Women Work program is the only program in our area that provides training in the construction trades for women. As such, this program is invaluable to March-Westin. In fact, March-Westin has hired several graduates of your program into our apprenticeship program and we hope to continue to have the WV Women Work program as a recruitment source."

"Over the past several years the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #132 has utilized the Step Up program to recruit qualified women for our workforce. The program is operated by WV Women Work and has consistently provided us with highly skilled, female, entry-level workers we need."

Current Campaigns

Skip to content