Overview
The use of apprenticeships in your business will help you maintain a high level of technical or specialty skills unique to your business. This is accomplished under your control of training and evaluation of the apprentice and his/her attained skill level. The apprentice reaches journeyman status when he/she completes the training to your satisfaction. This is typically over a one (1) to four (4) year period.

Training Advantages
The apprentice works on-site with a mentor/ trainer who you know as your highest skilled employee. Skills are learned by doing. The employer controls this process. Classroom training (related instruction) also accompanies on-the-job training. As an employer, you determine the related instruction. This can be taught on-site, via correspondence, at a local community college, ATC, etc. Training is complete when your evaluation of the apprentice’s skill level meets your satisfaction and he/she has completed the related classroom training.

Financial Advantages
Apprentices generally work full-time, on-the-job producing product under the direction of the highest skilled journeyman mentor at a fraction of the cost of a journeyman. Pay, as an apprentice, is graduated, starting at half of journeymen’s wage and moving up as training steps are completed. During this time, the apprentice is a productive employee contributing to your success. Once the apprentice becomes a journeyman, he/she understands your business and can help create improvement opportunities and assist in growing your business.

Apprenticeship provides:

• An excellent return on your training investment
• Proven strategies that prepare your workforce to compete effectively in the 21st century
• A systematic approach for providing ongoing education and training to your employees
• A methodology for implementing best business practices
• Outside education tied directly to on-the-job training