Michigan Business Beat | Tekea Norwood, CAMW!, Building Apprenticeship Talent Pipelines

Chris Holman welcomes back Tekea Norwood, Chief Operating Officer of CAMW!, Capital Area Michigan Works!, Lansing, but serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties, Michigan. Walk us through how Capital Area Michigan Works! helps an employer build a Registered Apprenticeship program from the ground up? The process involves employers, educators, and workforce partners working together. Why is that collaboration so important to creating a successful talent pipeline? Apprenticeships can be used for both new hires and current employees. How are companies using apprenticeships to retain and upskill existing workers? Employers today are focused on workforce reliability and retention. How do Registered Apprenticeships help companies reduce turnover and build long-term workforce stability? For businesses that may think apprenticeships are too complicated or expensive, what support does Capital Area Michigan Works! provide to make the process manageable and practical? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ ● Registered Apprenticeships are federally recognized and standardized programs that support the training, productivity, and retention of skilled workers. ● Apprenticeships are a proven win-win training model with benefits for both employers and our region’s workforce. For example: ○ Apprenticeships offer a “learn and earn” model, allowing workers to contribute to the day-to-day operations of a company and earn a paycheck while they learn the necessary skills. ○ Apprenticeships lower turnover rates and reduce hiring expenses by developing talent from within. ○ Over 90% of apprentices are still employed with a company one-year after completing their apprenticeship. ● While many people are familiar with apprenticeships in the construction and manufacturing sectors, almost any occupation is a good fit for apprenticeships, including IT, accounting, childcare, and customer service. About Race to Talent: ● Race to Talent is for employers who want to grow, retain, and develop talent through registered apprenticeship programs. ● It is an outreach effort in partnership with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to increase the number of employers offering registered apprenticeship programs. ● During the event today, employers will hear from regional companies that have built successful apprenticeship programs in healthcare, manufacturing, HR, and more! How CAMW! Supports Employers: ● Capital Area Michigan Works! can help employers create a custom registered apprenticeship program for their company’s goals. ● We work directly with employers to ideate training opportunities and walk them through program requirements to build the best apprenticeship program for their team. Get Involved: ● Employers interested in starting an apprenticeship program should contact CAMW!’s apprenticeship team at [email protected]. ### ABOUT CAMW! Capital Area Michigan Works!, a proud partner of the American Job Center network, connects with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies, and strengthens the local workforce by enhancing education and career opportunities for job seekers. For more information, call (517) 492-5500 or go to www.camw.org.