New Apprenticeship Program Coined ‘Learn and Earn’

 

GF Machining added a wrinkle to their open house early this month at its headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois, by announcing the launch of a new apprenticeship program for local high school students. The company calls the new program “Learn and Earn” and signed the first official candidate during the open house.

Apprentices will alternate between class time and real-world, hands-on experience, while earning an associate’s degree at nearby Harper Community College, a DIHK certificate and a Department of Labor certificate. GF will pay the apprentice’s tuition and provide them an hourly wage, as well as benefits such as health insurance and paid time off. Jon Carlson, marketing specialist at GF, says “Student loans don’t go away, so why start with one?”

The program is open to the local community and the hope is to induct a minimum of four new apprentices to the program each year. This is another case of manufacturing and academia working together to help educate the workers for tomorrow. If manufacturing doesn’t do it, who will?

Click here to learn more about this program. Or better yet, contact GF and find out if this program might be doable in your community.