Blum honors 2008 Apprenticeship Program graduates

Apprenticeship 2000 partnership companies honored their 2008 program graduates on August 20, 2008, at Joe Gibbs Racing, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The ten graduates completed a total of 8,000 hours of training over the last four years, with 1,800 of those hours at Central Piedmont Community College. Graduates earned an associate’s degree in manufacturing technology, a journeyman’s certification from the North Carolina Department of Labor and are guaranteed a job within their partner company starting at a minimum salary of $34,000.

Apprenticeship 2000 is now in its 14th year. The partner companies that comprise the program itself are: Ameritech Die & Mold, Inc., Blum Inc., Max Daetwyler Corp., Pfaff Molds, Sarstedt, Timken, Central Piedmont Community College and the North Carolina Department of Labor. Each year, Apprenticeship 2000 recruits from 27 high schools in six surrounding counties and from the workforce of participating companies. The program offers training and careers in the following areas: tool and die maker, electronics technician, CNC machinist, mold & plastics technician, machine technician, and welding fabricator.

“Apprenticeships are extremely common in Europe,” said Andreas Thurner, manager of the Apprenticeship Program at Blum Inc. “The European model offers students the opportunity to learn a trade under the guidance of a skilled mentor. We then offer our students the opportunity to work for the company that has taught and supported them throughout their studies. The success of the program speaks for itself. We have an approximate 80% retention rate of graduates after five years.”

All ten of the 2008 graduates will begin their professional career at their partner company. “We are thrilled to offer the proper detailed training. These employees have the desire to work and succeed in their chosen industry.” added Mr. Thurner. “By paying for the students’ college tuition and books and offering them a well paid position after graduation, we are loyal to our students in the hope that they will become loyal employees in return.”

Mr. Karl Ruedisser, President of Blum, Inc., added that, “Without the skilled workforce that we have developed through Apprenticeship 2000, we would not be able to maintain and expand our highly automated production facility.”

For more information on the Apprenticeship 2000 Program please visit www.apprenticeship2000.com