Direct Energy and Mike Rowe Launch Webisode Series To Debunk Myths About Blue Collar Work

Sarasota, FL (April 7, 2016) – According to the ManpowerGroup's Talent Shortage Survey, skilled trades workers, which include plumbers, electricians, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians, topped the list of the hardest jobs to fill in 2015. That's why One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® and Mister Sparky,® part of the Direct Energy® family of home service franchise brands, have launched a new webisode series to highlight the rewards, benefits and opportunities that a career in the skilled trades can offer.

The series, called "Hot Under the Blue Collar," was co-created with Mike Rowe, executive producer and host of Somebody's Gotta Do It and Dirty Jobs, who's been a long-time supporter of the skilled trades through his foundation, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. All webisodes will be featured on FindSkilledJobs.com.

"The truth is that skilled tradesmen and women can earn the same benefits as people in a white collar profession," said Mark Baker, President of Franchise. "We want people to realize the earning potential, opportunities and quality of life that these jobs can provide for people and their families. We don't have enough qualified people to do these jobs."

Each webisode will feature one myth that Rowe dispels with a variety of facts, statistics and real-life experiences. Some of the myths include:

• There are no good jobs left in America
• The best path to a good job is a four-year degree
• Trade jobs are dead-end jobs
• You can't make six figures
• There's no room for women in the trades

"As long as Americans remain addicted to affordable electricity, smooth roads, indoor plumbing and climate control, the opportunities in the skilled trades will never go away," said Rowe. "And those properly trained can expand their trade into a small business. But if we don't do something to reinvigorate the trades and make a persuasive case for good jobs that actually exist, I'm afraid millions of great opportunities will go down the drain."

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and Mister Sparky, part of the Direct Energy family of brands, began working with Rowe and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation in April 2015 to help promote the skilled trades industry and empower future and potential trade professionals. As a part of the effort, the brands contributed $100,000 to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation's Work Ethic Scholarship program, which assists eligible individuals who plan to pursue an education in a vocational or similar trade-related program. Applications are being accepted now through May 15, 2016 at mikeroweworks.org/scholarship.

For more information about the Direct Energy family of brands, the partnership with Mike Rowe and job opportunities, visit www.onehourheatandair.com, www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com and www.mistersparky.com.

About Direct Energy:

Direct Energy is North America's largest home services provider in the HVAC, plumbing and electrical industries. It offers replacement, repairs and a wide range of services through the brands of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky electric. To learn more please visit www.directenergy.com/home-services. Follow the brands on Facebook at www.facebook.com/benfranklinplumbing, www.facebook.com/mistersparky, and www.facebook.com/onehourheatandair. Follow the brands on Twitter at @sbenfrankplumber, @mistersparky1, and @onehourheatair. ©2016 Clockwork IP, LLC

About Mike Rowe and mikeroweWORKS Foundation

From the Baltimore Opera to QVC shopping channel, Creator, Executive Producer and TV Host of Somebody's Gotta Do It, Mike Rowe has done it all. He's best known as "the dirtiest man on TV," a title he earned on his hit TV series Dirty Jobs, and he narrates hundreds of documentaries and television shows about space, nature, war, serial killers, hurricanes, dinosaurs and how stuff works. Today, he runs the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that awards scholarships to qualified people with a passion to learn a skill that's actually in demand. In his spare time, he enjoys reading pulp fiction and writing about himself in the third person. To learn more, visit mikeroweWORKS.org.

For further information, please contact:
Monica Yadav
Manager, External Relations, Direct Energy
(941)600-6907
Monica.Yadav@directenergy.com