Future of Talent: Apprenticeships and Internships
At the final Future of Talent event for 2024, Katie Dulaney and Jennifer Hynson shared how to build a future-ready workforce through strategic apprenticeships and internships.
Katie Dulaney serves as the Talent Director of the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development (CVPED). She emphasized how internships benefit employers, students and the wider community:
- Employers build a hiring pipeline and increase their staff capacity
- Students develop skills, build confidence, clarify their career goals, and gain crucial hiring opportunities
- Communities enhance their local talent pool, keep graduating students in the local workforce, and enhance community ties between the education system and the business community
In Virginia, the supply of available internships is estimated to be less than half of what is needed.
The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) connects Virginia businesses that have work-based learning opportunities to Virginia students looking for them, with a wage matching program to support paid internships.
For assistance in sourcing and placing interns, employers can contact Katie at kdulaney@centralvirginia.org or reach out to Nedra Fleming, Experiential Learning Coordinator at the University of Virginia Career Center, at ncj5v@virginia.edu.
Jennifer Hynson is a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant for the Piedmont Region with Virginia Works, the Commonwealth's Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
The Registered Apprenticeship Program is a nationally recognized credential encompassing more than 1,000 occupations. Registered Apprenticeship Consultants work closely with local employers, educational institutions, and community partners to develop apprenticeship programs.
Employers who sponsor these apprenticeship programs identify employees to serve as mentors. Benefits to employers include developing a skilled workforce, improving productivity, reducing turnover, and creating customized training to ensure their workers develop the right skills.
State and federal grant funds are available to support qualified apprenticeship programs. Interested employers can contact Jen at Jennifer.Hynson@virginiaworks.gov.
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development proudly present the Future of Talent series, where employers learn new strategies to attract great talent and build a strong team. The Fall 2024 series is sponsored by Avature.