Last week, I wrote about apprenticeships and how they could be structured. This week, I will discuss other programs someone could pursue as well as the benefits of these programs for both the individual and the entire community.
Pre-apprenticeships are a newer program for the state of Kentucky. STOBER’s pre-apprenticeship program is a partnership with Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and TRACK. High school students are able to work 10 hours a week at an employer and earn school credit, all while getting paid. Pre-apprenticeships allow students to discover their specific careers of interest before graduating. Since 2016, STOBER has had several pre-apprentices in Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and other fields.
Co-op programs provide students great work experience while often being paid. The University of Cincinnati, for example, has one of the top co-op programs in the country, and even requires students with certain majors to complete a co-op before graduating. While the co-op’s education is not paid for by the company, the student can earn money and on-the-job training. This real-world study prepares them for life after school. For students who have less time, internships or mentorships allow them to shadow an area and learn what skills are needed to work in that field.
What is often not understood is that these dual-track programs are the beginning of an individual’s education journey, not an end. Opportunities for employment and advancement open with the recognition that these people are now experienced and skilled employees.
The benefits for the individual are obvious. However, how can an employer, school or community benefit from investing in this type of program?
For employers, having talent development as part of their core strategy guarantees a pipeline of skills and talent. Finding qualified people can be difficult. Focusing on apprenticeships or other pathways allows you to grow your own talent and bridge the skills gap.
At STOBER, for instance, the goal is to always have 7-10 percent of the employee population in the form of apprentices, covering many job disciplines. Employee hiring, as well as retention, improve significantly, with the realization that a company invests in their employees. There are also many grants and tax credits available to employers to help fund these programs.
For educational institutions, especially local community colleges, talent development programs provide a new enrollment opportunity. Partnering with businesses also helps colleges stay in touch with the careers that are relevant within their communities. By doing so, the colleges can design programs to teach students the right skills so they can graduate with good job opportunities.
For communities, apprentices who find great companies to work for typically stay in those communities and raise their families. They also earn more than if they had gone straight to work from high school. So, tax revenue rises and the tax burden of social programs for the under- and unemployed is reduced. The community also gains a great reputation, attracting people to it.
Imagine for a moment what our community would be like 10 years from now, if, starting today, three things happen: 1) All businesses in our community offer high school graduates a dual-track learning opportunity; Apprenticeships, Co-ops, Internships, etc. 2) Parents encourage their kids to follow a local, dual-track learning opportunity, rather than going directly into a 4-year college program. 3) A large percentage of our young people stay in our community after high school graduation, complete their Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees here, gain years of work experience in the process, accumulate zero college debt, have fulfilling local careers, raise their families and pay taxes right here in our community. Can you imagine that? We can!
If you are interested in learning more or having the opportunity to ask questions about developmental programs, STOBER is hosting an open house on October 10 from 6-8 p.m.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. at our facility on Downing Drive. This event is called “Pathway to Success.” Everyone has a different pathway
