The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) serves more than 9,000 leaders from 1,300 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 metro areas in the U.S. The Center of Excellence presented at the ACCE's 2024 conference about leveraging Chambers of Commerce in Registered Apprenticeship alignment efforts. Participants explored the five core components of Registered Apprenticeship and gained insights into the current role of Chambers of Commerce in these programs. The session showcased best practices for Chamber involvement, featuring a presentation from the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Attendees also learned how their Chambers can engage more effectively to benefit local jobseekers, employers, and the Chambers themselves.
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Create Skilled Workers. Build Loyal Talent. Engage in Apprenticeship.
Registered apprenticeship (RA) is a proven, industry-driven strategy for building a skilled workforce. Employers in every industry are utilizing RA to recruit, train, and retain new hires and upskill incumbent workers because the model:
- generates positive ROI - employers report* earning an average of $1.47 for every $1 invested in apprenticeship through cost savings and increased productivity,
- reduces turnover and drives higher worker loyalty rates - 92% of all apprentices who complete a program are retained as permanent, full-time workers*, and 91% are still with their employer a year out,
- creates opportunities to widen the pool of candidates from which employers source talent by having a structure training program,
- creates a platform for stronger relationships with local education and workforce partners to identify and recruit talent earlier, and
- provides access to unique federal and state funding and support, including tax credits, potential wage support/reimbursements, tuition support, no-cost federal bonding, supportive services for qualified apprentices and more
*source: USDOL Office of Apprenticeship
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Viewing materials in our online repository (see below)
Resources
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 was 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 included interactive learning from workforce experts and features effective ATR and BSR partnerships.
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 Apprentice Training Representative (ATR) session, this training included how to engage with Business Services Representatives (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.
In cooperation with the USDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and its Division of Indian and Native American Programs (DINAP), the Center of Excellence hosted a webinar series featuring Safal Partners, a U.S. DOL funded Cyber and Tech Industry Intermediary and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program sponsors in Washington State. Presenters gave details about their RA programs and application process to professionals representing Native American jobseekers, Tribal college career centers, one-stops, and other workforce offices to show how to connect their workforce program participants and students to federally RA opportunities in the State of Washington.
Each webinar session consists of three different apprenticeship programs sharing their program’s occupations, application dates, application process, expectations, wages, cost, benefits, work/school location(s), and other pertinent details and includes a short Q&A period. This recruiting opportunity is designed to benefit Native American jobseekers and to bridge partnerships between RA programs and tribal organizations.
Link to Session 1 Presentation
This second Business Services Representatives’ (BSRs) training session featured 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.
RA is an ideal solution for many employers that are partners with workforce boards and American Job Centers. This online training explored innovative ways that apprenticeship ties in with WIOA business services. It also equipped participants 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.
Is your workforce board considering how to get started in adopting Registered Apprenticeship (RA) or supporting RA programs in your area? Have you taken a few first steps but wondering what a higher level of workforce/RA system alignment could look like? The Center created a draft tool designed to help boards visualize "levels" of RA alignment and self-assess their current alignment status. This special interactive session shared the draft tool and walks through the proposed "levels" of alignment, including indicators and next steps.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) provided an opportunity for the public workforce system to come together to ensure that we build an economy that works for all. The ETA Vision 2030 convening was an opportunity to highlight and uplift existing programs, build partnerships and break down silos, catalyze success by scaling up together, and create strategic plans to meet the needs of the future.
The Center presented, Effectively Leveraging Partnerships; Tools to Expand Registered Apprenticeship (RA), providing a step-by-step model on how to effectively leverage partnerships and tools to expand RA through system alignment, outreach and education, and system building.
2023 ApprenticeshipPA brought together industry, education, workforce, and stakeholders across Pennsylvania that wanted to strengthen apprenticeship employment and work-based models of training and development.
The Center presented, U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence Strategic Partnerships and Systems Alignment. This presentation provided an overview of knowledge gaps based on the results of the Registered Apprenticeship baseline knowledge report, as well as discussing system alignment tools, and how to leverage the services provided by the Center of Excellence.
Center partner, the California Workforce Association, held their national workforce development conference, Meeting of the Minds, focusing on training, growth, and America’s economic future. CWA's Meeting of the Minds is where national and local leaders, workforce boards, policymakers, and business partners come together for a convening dedicated to advancing workforce development as a key driver of economic progress.
The Center held an interactive session, Keys to Effective Apprenticeship Partnerships, providing background information on Registered Apprenticeship and key stakeholders, as well as covering information on what is required to make an Registered Apprenticeship programs effective.
This webinar provided assistance for workforce development boards regarding becoming a Registered Apprenticeship (RA) sponsor.
Safal Partners and FASTPORT subject matter experts spoke about how workforce development boards can help a business start a Registered Apprenticeship and become a sponsor. Additionally, current sponsors from workforce development shared their expertise in becoming a sponsor.
Participants heard how organizations made the decision to become an RA sponsor, best practices for engaging all stakeholders in the process, and the pros and cons of becoming an RA sponsor.
Katie Adams, Chief Delivery Officer, and Melissa Aguilar-Southard, Director and Subject Matter Expert, from Safal Partners presented on behalf of the Center at the National Association of Workforce Development national conference. This presentation strengthened participants' knowledge of Registered Apprenticeship by providing some insight, basic apprenticeship information, and actionable next steps to move forward. Katie and Melissa pointed out four major knowledge gaps from a recent Workforce System Registered Apprenticeship Baseline Knowledge Assessment Report including funding support through co-enrollment and sharing knowledge about Registered Apprenticeship.
This Apprenticeship.gov Fact Sheet shows a summary of the findings from the Evaluation of the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) offering insight into the benefits to employers of using registered apprenticeship programs to hire and train workers. There were two main findings: return on investment (ROI) of apprenticeship and net benefits of apprenticeship.
This questionnaire is intended to help your organization answer important internal questions in preparation for working with your local US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (DOL OA) staff or State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) staff to develop or expand a registered apprenticeship (RA) program.
As part of the Center of Excellence’s work on System Alignment and Strategic Partnerships in Registered Apprenticeship, the Center chose five initial states in 2021 to do focused work with leaders across workforce, industry, education, and labor. California was one of the five states. Center lead, Safal Partners, engaged the California Workforce Association (CWA) as a lead partner on the Center grant.
Together, Safal Partners, CWA and leadership from the state apprenticeship agency (Division of Apprenticeship Standards – DAS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) Office of Apprenticeship (OA) formed a Leadership Team of representative organizations to guide the Center’s work in the state. The team is comprised of 26 members representing industry, workforce, education, government, and labor; it has representation from both the state and local level within each sector.
This Center of Excellence California Regional Sessions Report-Out documents the 2022 regional sessions utilizing methods such as asset mapping and guided questions focused on opportunities and actions. Overviews of meeting outputs are recorded from the Sacramento, Clovis, Long Beach regions.
This presentation discussed registering for National Apprenticeship Week, the partnership with the Center of Excellence, an introduction to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Apprenticeship Update, Safal partnership with the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America, an overview of role clarity, and a Q&A section.