Britt, Peters and Associates establishes apprenticeship program for drafters and engineers

Apprenticeship Carolina, an integral part of the SC Technical College System, announced Tuesday that Britt, Peters and Associates established a registered apprenticeship program for its drafters and engineers. This apprenticeship program represents the first registered program for a design engineering company in the upstate and is a continuation of the company’s successful internship and co-op programs.

“Britt, Peters and Associates is very pleased to have registered this apprenticeship program which will enable us to maintain our growth as a leader in the industry,” said Mark Peters, president and CEO. “This program will allow us another opportunity to hire and retain the brightest talent in each of our locations.”

Apprenticeship Carolina is the U.S. Department of Labor’s official liaison for registering all apprenticeship programs – both adult and youth – in South Carolina. Since its inception in 2007, Apprenticeship Carolina has played a key role in growing apprenticeship participation across the state. The number of participating organizations has increased from 90 to just over 800, and the number of apprentices has grown from 777 to more than 16,700.

The apprenticeship program at Britt, Peters and Associates will be tied to the apprentices’ associates, bachelors or masters degree and combine on-the-job learning with job-related education.

An apprenticeship is a time-tested method of employee development that combines supervised on-the-job learning and job-related education. A program “registered” with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) shows an employer’s visible commitment to developing a high-quality workforce that meets nationally recognized training standards. Registered apprenticeship programs also enable employees to receive incremental wage increases as they demonstrate new competencies throughout the training program.

“Our growth strategy sets us apart,” said Carla Whitlock, senior consultant for Apprenticeship Carolina. “We made a conscious decision to break down the traditional barriers to registered apprenticeship. Programs like Britt, Peters and Associates’ show that we’re redefining a centuries old concept and making it something that has real value for business and industry in South Carolina.”

Apprenticeship Carolina™ is an integral part of the SC Technical College System that works to ensure all employers in South Carolina have access to the information and technical assistance they need to create demand-driven registered apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship consultants are available to guide companies through the registered apprenticeship development process from initial information to full recognition in the National Registered Apprenticeship System. These services are available to South Carolina employers free of charge. Interested employers are encouraged to contact Apprenticeship Carolina™ at (803) 896-5287 or to visit www.apprenticeshipcarolina.com.

Britt, Peters and Associates (BPA) has been a leader in civil and structural engineering for over 45 years. The company has helped plan, design and project-manage thousands of challenging projects for clients with stringent budget, schedule and quality requirements. BPA’s multidisciplinary staff is licensed in 46 states and works collaboratively with clients on a local, regional, and national basis across a variety of industries. BPA’s registered professional engineers and support team are responsible for renovating, evaluating, and designing structural and civil solutions for cities, counties, municipalities, K-12 schools, health care facilities, colleges, universities and private development. For more information, visit www.brittpeters.com.