National Apprenticeship Week Is Underway!

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS UNDERWAY: NEW WEBSITE CELEBRATES NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HAMILTON COUNTY

By Andrew Hudson, Director of Viable Pathways & Walton Robinson, Executive Director of Build Within

Did you know that apprenticeships are different than internships?

Although both are valuable, a few distinctions make the two unique.

Internships—often required for graduating from a secondary education institution—are avenues into the workforce that are widely known as short-term, part-time, and sometimes unpaid.

Apprenticeships, however, are industry-driven career pathways where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce while the individuals obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally recognized credential.

Apprenticeships have a deep history in trades and are now being applied broadly to information technology and other digital careers. In-demand careers such as Data Analyst, Front-End Developer, IT Help Desk manager, and many more are increasingly being filled by apprentices.

In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, the “Apprenticeship Works” hub of Hamilton County and Chattanooga is launching its new website. Hamilton County and Chattanooga are one of five communities in the United States that received an Apprenticeships Build America grant, and Chattanooga 2.0 is co-leading in this effort to amplify and accelerate access and opportunity through apprenticeships.

Hamilton County-Chattanooga is the only site out of the five ABA-designated apprenticeship hubs that have chosen a community-focused approach to building impact through intentional input and leadership across the county in the form of Apprenticeship Works. Apprenticeship Works is a coalition of business, education, non-profit, and philanthropic leaders, with Walton Robinson serving as Executive Director of the Apprenticeship Innovation Hub for Hamilton County-Chattanooga.

In addition to the new Apprenticeship Works website, we encourage you also to check out ExploreHamiltonCounty.com, which allows you to explore careers that companies in Hamilton County-Chattanooga are hiring apprentices for now through the Build Within platform. Please visit these sites and come in person to the following community events:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13 | APPRENTICESHIP.WORKS KICKOFF EVENT