HomeServe's 2026 apprenticeship grant provides direct funding to contractors for existing and new apprentice roles, helping skilled trades businesses cover the cost of formal education and licensing. It tackles one of the trades' most persistent problems: getting technicians credentialed and career-ready. At Drain Dudes in Newport News, Virginia, that funding is already producing results.

What Is HomeServe's 2026 Apprenticeship Grant?

HomeServe's 2026 apprenticeship grant is a workforce development initiative that channels funding directly to contractor businesses for apprentice training, licensing programs and related upskilling costs.

The logic is straightforward: support the businesses already committed to training their people, and the next generation of tradespeople benefits at the same time.

How the Grant Works in Practice: Drain Dudes, Newport News, Virginia

Ricky Atkinson launched Drain Dudes in 2015 and moved into it full time in 2021. From the start, he built a clear standard into the business: if a technician has been on the team for a year and still does not hold a license, the company helps pay for school. For Ricky, licensing is not optional, it is a baseline condition of doing the work right.

The apprenticeship grant funding allowed him to act on that commitment this year.

The technician benefiting this year is Maurice Lockett, who joined Drain Dudes just over a year ago and was persistent about entering an apprenticeship program.

"He's a dedicated individual who repeatedly came to me about his apprenticeship, expressing constant interest to learn more," Ricky said.

The Grant from HomeServe helped enroll Maurice at New Horizons Adult Education in Hampton, Virginia, where he is now working toward his journeyman's plumbing license. The school offers a full apprenticeship track along with every course required to earn that credential in the state, covering plumbing code, hands-on field training and the technical knowledge needed to work independently. The current cohort runs through September, with the next round of courses beginning in November.

Ricky completed the same program to earn his own license, giving him direct insight into what the credential demands and what Maurice is working through. For a growing operation, that kind of structured, state-recognized preparation matters: technicians reach job sites with both the practical skills and the formal credentials the work requires.

What the Grant Means Beyond the Dollars

The support carries meaning beyond the funding itself. For Ricky, it reflects the nature of his relationship with HomeServe.

"Being a contractor of HomeServe for two years now and now receiving this grant shows me that the company is dedicated in regards to our growth and development," he said. "My guys know that I take our partnership with HomeServe very seriously.” His day-to-day motivation is rooted in the people around him. "Making sure I provide my clients and my techs with the best work experience I can motivates me daily to grow and exceed my own expectations."

When Maurice completes the program, he will hold a journeyman's plumbing license recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. That credential opens doors for him personally and strengthens Drain Dudes as a licensed operation capable of taking on a wider range of work.