Passing the Torch in Trades Before It Burns Out with Manja Horner

In the next five to eight years, one-fifth of the skilled trades workforce will retire, taking with them decades of irreplaceable expertise. But unlike retiring executives who often transition into consulting roles, these master craftspeople will simply walk away, with their knowledge and experience potentially lost forever.

This upcoming crisis forms the backdrop of our latest episode of Beyond the Build: Innovation in Construction, as Manja Horner, Founder and CEO of Boost, joins hosts Scott Lowman and JP Scott to dive into her mission of transforming how trades companies preserve and transfer critical skills to the next generation.

What You’ll Learn:
• How to capture and transfer knowledge from retiring skilled trades workers before it's lost forever
• Why traditional corporate training approaches fail in trades environments and how to adapt effectively
• How to balance Gen Z's desire for faster advancement with the need for thorough skill development
• The critical connection between leadership communication skills and employee retention
• Why hands-on, practice-based training beats theoretical learning in trades environments
• How to create learning content that resonates with different generational learning styles

Manja Horner is the Founder and CEO of Boost, a specialized learning design agency transforming how skilled trades companies develop their workforce. With over 20 years of experience in training development and a unique background combining music education, business marketing, and construction industry expertise, she helps organizations create practical, hands-on learning environments that drive real results.

Known for her innovative approach to preserving and transferring crucial trade knowledge from retiring experts to the next generation, Manja is currently writing “Passing the Torch in the Trades” (due early 2026) while developing transformative apprenticeship programs.

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Chapters:
[00:00] Intro and Welcome to Beyond the Build
[06:51] The Three Pillars of Effective Trade Training
[12:03] Leadership Buy-In: The Foundation of Successful Training
[21:33] Capturing Critical Knowledge Before It's Lost
[32:42] Role-Play Based Leadership Communication Training
[41:18] Journey Person Development Framework: Beyond Basic Training
[44:44] Modernizing Apprenticeship Training for New Generations
[50:20] Key Takeaways: Bridging the Generation Gap in Trades Training