The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors —National Association (PHCC) Educational' Foundation announced it has expanded its online training catalogue to enhance crucial communication and sales skills that will help "build high-performance individuals and fuel business growth." The new p-h-c industry courses are offered through the PHCC Academy, and made available in partnership with ServiceSkills and the Quality Service Contractors (QSC) group. 

PHCC Educational Association licensed ServiceSkills courses – short, focused lessons with interactive video training with real-world applications. Promoting self-paced learning, the courses can be viewed at the participant’s convenience and even accessed on-the-go, on smartphones and tablets. While the ServiceSkills courses don’t require any prerequisites, there are three different offerings based on respective industry roles:

• Technicians / apprentices: designed for individuals who interact with customers and work in team environments to "master customer service excellence, workplace communication and professional relationship skills essential for success."
• Human resources / leadership: geared for managers, HR professionals and team leaders who want to "master the essential skills needed to build high-performing teams, foster respectful workplaces and drive organizational success."
• Administrative / office staff: intended for office employees who want to elevate their professional capabilities and deliver "exceptional service."

In addition, the Foundation has also adapted QSC’s “Seal the Deal,” in-person course, and launched it as a self-paced, online course. These training modules are for HVAC technicians and plumbers working in the field and aim to empower them to confidently sell their services and navigate budget pushback to drive business growth. 

By bridging the gap between technical competence and customer relations, this course aims to support long-term business goals by teaching HVACR technicians and plumbing apprentices how to build customer trust, address concerns and present solutions, articulate value and ensure customers understand the necessity of their work. 

“Properly educating and training technicians, apprentices, and office professionals for industry-focused work is incredibly important. But, if they don’t possess the confidence to communicate and negotiate effectively, they risk falling behind in their careers,” said Dan Quinonez, executive director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. “Our members have expressed the need for courses focused on building their communication and sales skills, and we are proud to be able to offer professional development that can help them advance their career.” 

The individual courses vary in price but are available in a bundle for business owners who want to enroll multiple employees from their companies. All participants receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the course; no formal examination is required.

To learn more about the PHCC Academy’s courses and enroll, please visit: phccacademy.org/courses/