Apprenticeships in Motion
Get the Workforce You Need to Grow Your Business
Apprenticeships in Motion
The Community and Technical College System of West Virginia’s (WVCTCS) Apprenticeships in Motion (AIM) program, made possible by a nearly $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, prepares students and incumbent workers for middle- to high-skilled information technology (IT) occupations that are in increasingly high demand across the Mountain State. AIM partners with businesses and colleges to provide an “earn as you learn” experience for students and current employees. Through these connections, companies and organizations tap into a trusted talent pool, reduce the cost of on-boarding, cultivate dedicated employees, and address their present skills gap. Grant performance period ends July 14, 2024.
“Hiring IT professionals with cybersecurity skills is very difficult, especially in West Virginia. The AIM program allowed us to ‘grow our own.’” —Norman Gundersen, Vice President/WV Division GM, Global Science &Technology, Inc.
“The AIM program encouraged my current company to take a chance on a much older and less experienced candidate. As a result, I gained the opportunity to prove myself and test my skills in a real work environment, which lead to a promotion within 6 months.” —Lindsey Clagg, Software Engineer
What are the benefits to businesses?
Apprenticeships are a known solution for attracting and retaining a skilled workforce. Businesses that incorporate apprenticeships into their practices have a competitive advantage due to their long-term investment in a skilled workforce. Customized training and education create the right-skilled workers and result in cost savings in employee recruitment, training and retention. Apprenticeships also create a pipeline to middle- and high-skilled positions within a company, allowing incumbent workers to advance to positions otherwise left unfilled.
DOWNLOAD: Flyer for businesses
What are the benefits to students?
Apprentices gain success through real-world, on-the-job training and related technical instruction through paid cooperative experiences, and they ultimately earning national industry-recognized credentials in fast-growing IT fields. Similar programs in West Virginia often result in at least 90% of graduates being hired by the companies that train them. And, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 94% of companies that hire apprentices keep them on as employees.
Want to learn more?
Contact the AIM staff:
Travis Miller – Project Director. Email: tmiller@wvctcs.edu / Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/tmiller-wvctcs-aim
Main CTCS number: 304-558-0265
Or contact your nearest community and technical college:
Blue Ridge CTC: Amber Butcher, abutcher@blueridgectc.edu
BridgeValley CTC: Christina Johnson, christina.johnson@bridgevalley.edu
Eastern WV CTC: Megan Webb, Megan.Webb@easternwv.edu
Mountwest CTC: Julie Hazelett, Hazelett10@mctc.edu
New River CTC : Charles Bowles, cbowles@newriver.edu
Pierpont CTC: Nancy Ligus, nligus@pierpont.edu
Southern WV CTC: Judith Runyon, judith.runyon@southernwv.edu
WV Northern CC: Phil Klein, pklein@wvncc.edu
WVU Parkersburg: Sam Copen, scopen@wvup.edu