National Electrical Apprenticeship Week

During the week of November 2 – 6, 2015, The Solutions Group celebrated National Apprenticeship Week.  The week is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

National Apprenticeship Week 2015 is about:

•    getting more small businesses to take on apprentices
•    promoting the range and breadth of apprenticeships on offer, including those at higher level and within blue chip companies
•    celebrating apprenticeships and the level of success that learners can achieve

Thursday, November 5^th The Solutions Group (TSG) had an event for the current Eastern Arkansas Electrical Apprenticeship class where the apprentices demonstrated some of their talents and training to participants of this event.  TSG invited current ANC students and industry contacts. Anthony Mula, year 1 and 2 apprenticeship instructor, led the discussion and presentation about what the apprentices learn in this program. 

Program requirements

·         567 Classroom Hours

·         8000 On the Job training Hours

·         4  year term

·     

 Apprentice must be employed under a Master Electrician. Currently the Eastern Arkansas Apprenticeship program has 22 students. These students attend class one night per week and are currently employed. After successful completion of the program the apprentice is then released to test for their Journeyman Worker’s license. 

Donald Evance, a current apprentice, made this statement about the program:

“This is my second year being and apprentice, but I’ve been in the electrical business for over 20 years. Getting the apprentice license has double my salary and opened up doors with the company that I work for.  It has enhanced my life and my family’s life. All around made life living better and afforded me to get some of the things we want. The apprenticeship program leads to journeyman license and master electrician license which will open a lot of other doors. I talk about my work so much, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps and it’s all because of the Electrical Apprenticeship Program. “

Hiring apprentices helps businesses to grow their own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Apprenticeship offers the best of both worlds: paid on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. We look forward to next year’s events.