Apprenticeship Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Howard County believes a strong solution for the demand for talent is through apprenticeships. In 2018, our office hosted an apprenticeship week event each year to outreach to businesses and potential employees. We have hosted roundtable events which included B2B discussions, apprentice testimonials, and sponsor conversations, as well as access to related training providers. We hosted a virtual apprenticeship week in 2020 and 2021, and our program participation grew. In 2022 we were proud to host two new events in support of National Apprenticeship Week; one was an event for job seekers that was held in English and Spanish, and the other was an event for businesses focused on Women in Apprenticeship. With the return to in-person meetings, we have continued our community awareness events and developed innovative ways to recruit, train, and keep highly skilled employees by becoming apprenticeship sponsors and developing the many benefits of apprenticeships. Much of our work with businesses, has included information sessions to engage them in discussions on ways they could grow their business, and understand staffing and employment needs, along with looking at innovative ways to recruit, train and keep highly skilled employees by becoming apprenticeship sponsors and develop their own workforce.