On Thursday, June 20th, ApprenticeshipPHL (APHL) along with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia hosted a fourth event in the series of Apprenticeship Accelerator events titled, “Leveraging the Strength of Group Sponsorship”. The Apprenticeship Accelerator Series is designed to help employers overcome skilled worker challenges by upskilling through apprenticeship. Previous accelerators introduced employers to the apprenticeship model, provided innovative examples of how programs are designed and built, and explored how employers can build internal capacity to successfully launch an apprenticeship program.
This most recent event invited employers to learn about the benefits of Group Sponsored apprenticeship programs, and how this model can be utilized to build a sustainable talent pipeline.
Presentation Kick-Off:
We kicked off our event with a series of short presentations starting with a review of apprenticeship, presented by Adina Tayar, Apprenticeship Navigator for Bucks and Montgomery Counties (EDSI). Next, we took a deeper look at the Group-Sponsored Apprenticeship model. In addition, attendees heard from Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown, Local Apprentice Network Lead for the Philadelphia Apprentice Network (PAN) who shared information about the organization, members, and strategies they use to engage employers in the apprenticeship model. To learn more about the Philadelphia Apprentice Network, please click HERE.
“Hear From the Experts” – Panel Discussion:
Following the opening presentations, we transitioned to an informative panel discussion, moderated by Stu Bass, Founder of Progress Worx, LLC. During the panel, attendees heard from experts who are strongly involved in managing successful Group-Sponsored Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Each panelist shared their experience in developing and growing their Group-Sponsored programs, from the initial steps in development, to recruitment strategies for implementation. Our panelists included:
- Alexandra Lehman – Pennsylvania College of Technology
- Marc Benson – Universal Academy
- Kevin Hughes Jr. – German American Chamber of Commerce
- Andrea Trubiano – Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA)
“Ask the Experts” – Roundtable Discussions:
We wrapped up our event with some engaging roundtable discussions where attendees were able to connect with panelists in a smaller setting and hear from additional program representatives/experts facilitating these discussions. The table groups discussed topics such as Program Sustainability, Participant Recruitment, and the Impact of Partnerships on Program Development. We also offered an “one-stop” information table represented by APHL members that provided attendees with information on intermediaries and the support offered to employers by APHL in developing and expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
The additional programs represented during these discussions included:
- Chris Clauss – Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) East
- Lisa Miskelly – Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
- Jessical Randall – Drexel University
Looking for More Info on Group Sponsorship?
Take a look HERE at our featured Registered Apprenticeship Programs from across the Commonwealth showcasing how the Group Sponsor model has worked for them! For additional information and to stay connected for future events, click here.