Ford, Enterprise Holdings team up to build new CEP school

Ford has announced that it is teaming up with Enterprise Holdings, a mobility solutions provider in the United States (US), to support the growth of the industry-leading Collision Engineering Program (CEP) by building a new school.

Through Ford’s partnership with Enterprise Holdings, the new school will offer the CEP two-year apprenticeship model to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision repair industry.

To note, CEP is currently active at six schools across the United States including Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Collin College in Allen, Texas; Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas; and Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska.

Details about the seventh school that will be built through Ford Fund will be announced in the months to come.

“This is an exciting time to support students pursuing careers in collision engineering. As the auto industry is rapidly evolving, the need for bright minds who are passionate about technical careers becomes greater every day. Partnerships like these allow us to drive progress more quickly, and with a greater impact, for the next generation of engineers,” said Ford Motor Company Fund Economic Mobility Director Mike Schmidt.

Further, the Ford Fund will offer scholarships to CEP students to prevent any barriers to students' academic success. In addition, Ford Fund’s support will also fund program startup costs, instructor training, and school equipment such as lab materials, and provide students access to toolkits, uniforms, personal protective equipment, certifications, tuition assistance, assessments, and other student-centered resources at the new school.

“Widespread industry support is vital to addressing the worker shortage and skills gap, and to ensuring the success of the Collision Engineering Program. As a leader in the automotive industry, we're committed to addressing these challenges with our partners. We could not be more thrilled to expand our longtime partnership with Ford Motor Company, through its philanthropic arm, the Ford Fund, to increase access to the Program and help address this ongoing industry challenge,” commented Enterprise Holdings Vice President Mary Mahoney.

According to TechForce Foundation, a national public charity, there are more than 10,000 collision technicians are needed between 2022 and 2026. Through Ford’s involvement in CEP, the Dearborn-based carmaker as well as America’s automotive leaders look to fill the said gap and build a new generation of highly skilled, motivated, and passionate collision repair professionals.

The CEP is also partnering with the TechForce Foundation to help administer the Ford Fund scholarships for students enrolled in the Program.

“This collaboration enables even more students who are passionate about the collision engineering field to pursue their dreams. Cars today are computers on wheels, and the technology is advancing rapidly. It takes a highly skilled technician — an engineer — who can properly service the paint and body, calibration, and mechanics required to ensure the repair and safety of the vehicle. TechForce is honored to partner with CEP and Ford Fund to administer the Ford Fund scholarships,” stated TechForce Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Maher.

Photos from Ford

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