Apprenticeship: A Tool for Marketers

Marketers face the challenge of recruiting new employees in a tight job market. NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a valuable tool marketers can use to recruit and train new employees. Marketers that use apprenticeships to recruit provide a pathway for training, making their company more attractive. The Apprenticeship Program includes four paths to certification. One pathway is for propane service technicians, and the other three pertain to driving commercial motor vehicles. All training is through PERC’s learning management system and a qualified mentor. Marketers interested in RAP should first enroll as an Employer Sponsor using the forms available on NPGA’s apprenticeship website.

The Apprenticeship Program allows Employer Sponsors to recruit workers and utilize local resources effectively. Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB) are one of the local resources that marketers can use to promote available apprenticeship opportunities. There are approximately 560 LWDBs around the country, and they partner with the American Job Center Network, which has 2,300 locations nationwide. Once your company enrolls as an Employer Sponsor you can develop a relationship with these local resources to increase your pool of applicants.

Choosing the apprenticeship route often results in greater employee retention. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of apprentices retain employment after completing their programs.

For more information on NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program and to sign up as an Employer Sponsor, please visit www.npga.org/apprenticeship-program or contact NPGA’s Senior Manager of State Association Relations, Eric Sears.