Roche Carolina Showcases Successful Apprenticeship Program

Statewide seminar touts benefits of using the apprenticeship model for workforce training

FLORENCE, SC – September 26, 2008 – Roche Carolina Inc. (RCI), in partnership with Apprenticeship Carolina™, hosted a statewide apprenticeship seminar Thurs., Sept. 25 for companies interested in developing their own similar training programs.

Carolina™ Director Ann Marie Stieritz, left, presents Roche Carolina Inc.’s Human Resource Director Cary Ashworth with a plaque recognizing RCI as an “Apprenticeship Champion” in South Carolina. (Photo to the right)

Apprenticeship Carolina™ organized the event to raise awareness among South Carolina businesses about the benefits of establishing a registered apprenticeship program. Twenty representatives from a diverse array of South Carolina companies were on hand to learn how RCI developed its rigorous model for training Process Technicians.

“Roche has one of the most comprehensive and successful apprenticeship training programs in South Carolina, so it made sense to hold the first of these statewide seminars at their beautiful campus and facilities here in Florence,” said Apprenticeship Carolina™ Director Ann Marie Stieritz. “Telling people about apprenticeships is one thing, but actually demonstrating what a successful program can do for a company’s training efforts is the best way to encourage other businesses to adopt the apprenticeship model.”

RCI’s technical training supervisor Paul Mundt gave an overview of the company’s three-year federally registered training program, fielded questions from attendees and led a site tour of RCI’s labs and manufacturing and production facilities. “Why did we go the apprenticeship route? Because we can encourage best practices in the training process, and it gives employees clearly defined requirements that are the same for everybody,” he said. “The training is consistent and standard, which also ensures safety and better regulatory compliance.”

Stieritz also presented RCI with a plaque recognizing the company as an “Apprenticeship Champion” in South Carolina. “We are pleased to be able to share our apprenticeship experience with these other industries,” said Pete Mazzaroni, RCI’s community affairs manager. “Helping other organizations improve their training methods will help build a better statewide workforce and thus increase South Carolina’s economic competitiveness.”

An apprenticeship is a time-tested method of employee development that combines supervised on-the-job training with job-related education in the classroom. 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.

Apprenticeship Carolina™ is a new division 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 their own 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. There is no charge for these services.

Interested companies can contact Apprenticeship Carolina™ at (803) 896-5287.