ATRs and BSRs: Collaborating to Expand Registered Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Training Representatives (ATRs) and Business Services Representatives (BSRs) are key in system alignment for Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and the workforce system. By collaborating, ATRs and BSRs can rapidly accelerate effective employer outreach and engagement in RA nationwide. While both ATRs and BSRs have their own unique set of responsibilities, the overlap in their respective roles related to employer engagement presents a natural opportunity to collaborate for accelerating industry’s understanding and adoption of RA to build talent pipelines which will, in turn, benefit job seekers who are served by Local Workforce Development Board case managers.

This “capstone” training session is the culmination of the first four sessions which were developed for each stakeholder group focused on educating each group on the other’s work. This session will include interactive learning from workforce experts, feature effective ATR and BSR partnerships, and provide ATRs with the ability to engage directly with workforce staff from their area through geographic-based breakout rooms and begin discussing ways of implementing the training at the local level.

Topics to be addressed include collaboration basics, promising practices, networking between ATRs and BSRs, and next steps to foster relationships and collaboration in future work.

Link to Webinar

Promising Practices for Building Effective Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR) and Business Services Representative (BSR) Partnerships

This is the second session for ATRs in this training series.

Broad and robust partnerships give value to expanding registered apprenticeships that ultimately help meet program outcomes and increase engagement with employers. Building on the knowledge gained from the first ATR session, this training will include how to engage with BSRs to develop strategies for effective, collaborative outreach to industry in developing new and expanded registered apprenticeship (RA) programs; promising practices for engaging with BSRs and other Local Workforce Development Board staff; and what successful collaboration between ATRs and the workforce system can look like. 

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Making Apprenticeship Central to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Business Services

This training session is designed for Business Service Representatives (BSRs), Veterans’ Representatives, and other workforce professionals that engage directly with employers.

This second Business Services Representatives’ (BSRs) training session will feature how registered apprenticeship (RA) bolsters the success of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) business services, the RA System and the role of Apprenticeship Training Representatives (ATRs), and how to coordinate and collaborate with ATRs and Navigators.

BSRs serve as industry’s critical point of contact with the public workforce system making them ideally positioned to present as a proven, critical component of an employers’ overall workforce development strategy and to promote the value of RA to employers.

RA is an ideal solution for many employers that are partners with workforce boards and American Job Centers. This online training opportunity will explore innovative ways that apprenticeship ties in with WIOA business services. It will also equip you to connect with and leverage the support of the apprenticeship system on behalf of employers.

By connecting intentionally and regularly with ATRs, WIOA business services can better engage employers, place candidates in well-paying RA employment, and increase positive WIOA performance metrics.

Link to Webinar

Understanding the Public Workforce System and Business Services Representative’s Role

Foundational knowledge of how the workforce system operates is essential to Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR) work. In this first session for ATRs, attendees will learn how Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) make decisions on policies and funding for employers, job seekers and how it relates to registered apprenticeships.

This session will also demonstrate the Business Services Representative (BSR) role and the steps program sponsors and employers will need to take to access Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and non-WIOA funding and support. ATRs will be provided with detailed information and tools to help them move from understanding policy alignment to practical implementation with workforce system partners, especially BSRs. 

Link to webinar