Greenwood Mills registers the first youth apprenticeship program in Greenwood County

GREENWOOD, SC – Apprenticeship Carolina, an integral part of the SC Technical College System, announced Tuesday that Greenwood Mills established a registered youth apprenticeship program for Machine Operators. This represents the first youth apprenticeship program in Greenwood County.

“Greenwood Mills has deep roots in this region and as a company, we are dedicated to building our employees and enhancing the workforce pipeline locally,” said Warren Moore, human resources manager for Greenwood Mills. “This registered youth apprenticeship program for Machine Operators gives us the opportunity to introduce young people from local high schools to our company while building their skills set and providing a nationally recognized credential. It’s a real win-win.”

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. The youth apprenticeship program at Greenwood Mills will combine on-the-job learning and job-related education. Students studying mechatronics, industrial electronics and other areas related to manufacturing will be chosen from local high schools. These students will have the opportunity to work in several areas of Greenwood Mills’ operation. In addition, Greenwood Mills has a registered Maintenance Technician program with Piedmont Technical College. Students who complete the youth program will transfer to the adult program.

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 760, and the number of apprentices has grown from 777 to almost 13,700. Youth apprenticeship programs have also increased. Currently, 23 counties have a registered youth apprenticeship program and there are nearly 90 youth programs across the state.

“While there is a large pool of labor available, many local employers struggle to find the skilled workers needed to grow their business,” said Carla Whitlock, senior consultant for Apprenticeship Carolina. “Apprenticeship Carolina and the technical colleges across our state are committed to bridging this skills gap in South Carolina. Partnerships like this with Greenwood Mills demonstrate our commitment while working to enhance the employability of South Carolina’s citizens and increase the competitiveness of the state as a whole.”

 
About Apprenticeship 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.