Session Focus: So you want to build an apprenticeship program – now what?

In the session "Apprenticeships: Designing and Implementing a Successful Program", leaders from Rush University Medical Center and the German American Chamber of Commerce shared their experiences building effective apprenticeship initiatives. The core takeaway? Developing a systematic, structured apprenticeship takes significant planning and commitment, but delivers immense value by developing skilled talent through real-world application.

As Marty Rosenheck from Cognitive Advisors stated: "Apprenticeship has become clear to me as a way that people develop the best way to develop skills is by learning by doing with getting coaching and feedback and doing the real thing in a systematic way."

Three key insights that emerged:

1. Apprenticeship programs provide a structured way for participants to learn skills by doing real work with coaching and feedback. The hands-on, immersive nature accelerates skill mastery.

2. Incorporating an associate's degree and providing the apprentices with paid college education increases the quality of applicants and aids long-term retention after the apprenticeship.

3. Successful implementation requires extensive planning and preparation by the company of at least a year to get all parties - management, HR, training staff, education partners - aligned on objectives, curricula, schedules and roles.

Whether in healthcare, manufacturing or other sectors, the apprenticeship model delivers a powerful mechanism for developing capable, loyal employees customized to your organization's needs. But it requires committed leadership and a rigorous implementation plan to create a win-win pathway for employees and employers.