ApprenticeshipNC Success Stories

Driven to Succeed: How Jacob Mitchell Found His Path at Ascendum MachineryAfter graduating high school early in 2022, Jacob Mitchell took a job at a local Autobell Car Wash. Although he enjoyed the hands-on nature of the work, he found himself searching for a career that offered more stability and opportunities for growth. His search led him to Ascendum Machinery, Inc.’s Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). As someone who’s always enjoyed tinkering and working with his hands, Jacob viewed the RAP as the perfect next step. “It’s a win-win,” he said. “You get training both in the classroom and on the job.”Read More

Apprenticeship Blue Ridge: Setting the Standard for Registered Apprenticeship SuccessApprenticeship Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Community College’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, is reimagining workforce development in Western North Carolina. Launched in 2019 as a solution to local manufacturing needs, Apprenticeship Blue Ridge began with the “Made in Henderson County” mechatronics engineering pathway. The program has rapidly grown to offer 15 additional pathways across 12 registered occupations... Apprenticeship Blue Ridge’s success is the direct result of strong community partnerships, the utilization of key administrative tools, and a commitment to the creation of lasting careers for its apprentices. Read More

Firefighter Pre-Apprentice Jasmine Brown: “I Knew I Enjoyed the Classes, But I Wanted to Be Able to See What the Workplace Was Like Firsthand” Like many seniors, Jasmine Brown was trying to figure out what to do after high school. She was drawn to the idea of becoming a firefighter, so when she learned that her town, the City of Albemarle in North Carolina, had launched a firefighter pre-apprenticeship program, she jumped at the chance. Read More

Apprenticeship Randolph: A Story of Apprenticeship ExcellenceIn 2016, local employers in Randolph County, North Carolina, recognized a growing problem: their workforce was declining. To address this, they united with local educational institutions to create Apprenticeship Randolph (AR), a consortium-based Registered Apprenticeship Program designed to meet the growing demand for skilled workers while offering young adults an educational path toward career success. Since its creation, the program has graduated 41 Registered Apprentices and has become nationally recognized as a model of Registered Apprenticeship excellence.Read More

Early Years Registers First Statewide Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship in North CarolinaEarly Years (formerly known as Child Care Services Association) registered the first statewide Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Apprenticeship Program in North Carolina on October 31, 2024. The program, which is registered through ApprenticeshipNC, the State Apprenticeship Agency housed under the North Carolina Community College System, will provide an accessible training pathway to thousands of ECE providers and potential educators across the state. Apprentices who participate in Early Years’ Registered Apprenticeship will receive paid on-the-job learning under a mentor, supplemental education, and nationally recognized credentials.Read More

IT/Cybersecurity Apprentice Seth Bullard: It is encouraging for people like me to see: ‘That could be me!’ Homeschooler Seth Bullard was taking information technology (IT) classes through Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina, when he learned about the opportunity to become an apprentice with Lumbee Holdings, Inc...Read More

Laying the Foundation for a Lasting Career: An ApprenticeshipNC Spotlight on the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association2024 is a momentous year for the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA). Not only is the association celebrating its 50th anniversary, which is a monumental achievement in and of itself, but it is also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Annual N.C. State Fair Masonry Apprentice Contest. The NCMCA’s mission is to serve the masonry contractors of the Carolinas and promote masonry as the building material of choice and as a successful career path. Registered Apprenticeship plays a vital role in the association’s mission and in its continued prosperity. Read More

Securing a Second Chance: An ApprenticeshipNC Spotlight on Operation GatewayConsecutively since April 2018, the acting president of the United States has issued a Second Chance Month proclamation to highlight the work being done to ease individuals’ transition from detention or treatment back into their communities. It is with this in mind, that ApprenticeshipNC chose Operation Gateway as its April Program Spotlight. Operation Gateway’s mission is to decrease recidivism by addressing the social determinants of the health of returning citizens. The organization leverages Registered Apprenticeship as a means of supporting the reentry process. Read More

She Built This City: Empowering Women and Underserved Communities Through ApprenticeshipDid you know that only 2.2% of plumbers, 2.3% of HVAC mechanics, 2.9% of electricians, and 3.1% of carpenters are women? In the larger picture, women represent only a small fraction of the skilled trades workforce. She Built This City (SBTC), a non-profit housed out of Charlotte, North Carolina champions equity in the skilled trades through Registered Apprenticeship programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to careers in the skilled trades for youth, women, and underserved communities.Read More