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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 D E C E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S WO R K F O R C E D E V E L O P M E N T full-time program offers a weekly $500 stipend. Graduates are guaranteed BIW job interviews. So far, BIW trained or is training almost 200 people; and hired over 100. BIW partners with Penobscot and Loring Job Corps to bring upcoming graduates of their trades-based programs to BIW for tours and pre-interviews. In 2019, BIW executed over 170 recruiting events and visited Maine's 27 career and technical education schools; the last round of visits reached 5,500 students. BIW intro- duced an expanded media campaign, attended local fairs, maintains a presence at Red Claws and Mariners games, airs a short video during many movie theater previews, introduced a relocation bonus, and instituted employee referral programs. OUTCOMES Over 1,500 people hired in 2019, BIW's largest hiring year in nearly three decades Another 300 to 400 to be hired by year's end, and another 1,000 in 2020 Custom apprenticeships Maine Department of Labor's Maine Apprenticeship Program is increasingly popular. Businesses work with staff to custom-design apprenticeships, using templates that identify job-training and classroom needs. Employers commit to safe work environments, supervision, training, incremental wage schedules, and recruitment and selection strategies. Plans include developing apprenticeships for students age 16 or over. Youth apprenticeships are expected to facilitate the connection between high school students and employers interested in investing in next-gen workforce development. OUTCOMES Maine currently works with 112 sponsors of apprenticeships that support 196 businesses and 905 apprentices in multiple industries, including healthcare, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, education and shipbuilding The program is working with 72 additional businesses interested in becom- ing sponsors In July, the program received a three-year $752,812 federal grant to expand Maine apprenticeships Earn while you learn Maine's largest construction company, Pittsfield-based Cianbro, has offered earn-while-you-learn programs for many years. In 2007, it established the Cianbro Institute to meet workforce needs. In 2017, it opened a state-of-the-art center to conduct a variety of sessions includ- ing but not limited to hands-on, skilled- trades instruction, new-hire orientation, safety programs, leadership develop- ment, internships and school visits with tours and hands-on activities. Cianbro additionally offers situational skills development at its 40-acre simulated work environment, welding laboratories, and job-site instruction. Industrial Construction Boot Camp teaches basic skills in pipefitting, millwrighting, ironworking, electrical and carpentry and concrete work. Participants earn while they learn. Upon completion, they receive a significant increase in pay and project assignments to continue learning on the job. "The boot camps have been a great feeder system for our apprenticeship programs and a great opportunity for these folks to begin a successful career," says Dan Coffey, director of the Cianbro Institute. OUTCOMES Cianbro Institute typically educates over 1,000 team members per year In 2019, 69 team members participated in Industrial Construction Boot Camp Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz Partner with a dental insurance provider that keeps your employees happy with fast and accurate claims processing. NortheastDeltaDental.com KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES HAPPY WITH SMILE POWER! Gary Gagnon Gary Gagnon (left), a (left), a Cianbro Cianbro ironworker instructor, teaches rigging ironworker instructor, teaches rigging during the company's college intern during the company's college intern boot camp held every summer. boot camp held every summer. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F C I A N B RO

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