Massachusetts Apprenticeship Network | Boston Chamber of Commerce

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Overview
Latest from the Apprentice Network
FAQs
Participating Partners

Building Untapped Talent Today

Building on the Commonwealth’s effort to expand apprenticeship models beyond the building trades, the Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more. The Massachusetts Apprentice Network will achieve collectively hiring 1,000 apprentices by 2027.

Participating employers will:

Access best practices
Build connections
Promote effective apprenticeship models
Demonstrate leadership in innovative workforce development practices

Participating employers come together in this network to also increase awareness of apprenticeship as a proven path for individuals to pursue meaningful careers regardless of age, race, gender, education attainment, or other socio-economic barriers.

ABOUT THE NETWORK

In 2022, the Massachusetts Apprentice Network launched with 6 founding employers. Since then, it has grown substantially, with a current roster of over 16 participating employers. With talent and training providers, intermediary organizations, and other supporting entities, the Network is actively broadening the adoption of apprenticeships. Recognizing that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution, the Network is committed to assisting organizations to develop custom solutions that best meet their apprenticeship needs.

Join the Network How to get started

Questions? Contact us.

Michael Holland

Director of Workforce Development Strategy

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Michael

Latest from the Apprentice Network

Talent

Apprenticeships in the Life Sciences

Mar 26, 20252:00pm - 3:00pmVirtual

Join the Massachusetts Apprentice Network for a virtual panel discussion exploring how employers are leveraging the power of apprenticeships.

Talent

Massachusetts Apprentice Network 3rd Anniversary Celebration

Apr 23, 20259:00am - 10:30amGreater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Join the Massachusetts Apprentice Network for the three-year anniversary celebration of the Network's launch.

Public Policy

MA Business Coalition on Skills Submits Letter on FY25 Budget

Read Now

2023 Data Report

Since launching in 2022, the MA Apprentice Network has hired 386 apprentices across 10 employers.

View the Full 2023 Data Report

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a full-time job with living wages and access to benefits. This learn and earn model:

Has an intent of making the candidate job ready for a specific role

Provides an individual with a pathway to build a career and full-time employment upon completion plus step increases in pay

Includes industry-recognized credentials and certificates, when relevant, incorporated in the technical and on-the-job training, providing portability and recognition by the occupation/industry.

Why apprenticeships?
Access to a highly motivated and productive talent pool that is less likely to leave than talent from traditional sources

Capability to provide diverse groups training and access to professional careers and reskill workers whose jobs are disrupted

Flexibility to source skilled talent on demand vs. only at college graduation

Promote inclusive opportunity, racial equity, and economic mobility where we work and live

Ability to build deeper relationships with clients and communities

What are the benefits to employers of using an apprentice model?
Explore these resources covering the return on investment (ROI) of apprenticeships for employers:

A Proven Solution for Employers

Beyond Productivity: How Employers Gain More from Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship ROI Calculator

What is an “apprenticeable role”?

An “apprenticeable role” is a job that requires some level of technical or professional skill that a candidate would need to be hired into the position. An apprenticeable role also has a career trajectory or pathway that the worker can advance into with further experience and/or education. Because apprenticeships require on-the-job training, the apprentice demonstrates skill competence and obtains mastery by the end of the program.

What does it mean to join an Apprentice Network?
Be seen as a leader in this space and elevate your current apprenticeship and/or workforce development efforts

Make the commitment to start or expand your professional apprenticeship program

Provide guidance and support to other organizations as they build their apprentice programs

Participate in quarterly Network events to share and learn best practices for developing and scaling professional apprenticeship programs

Share data with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to be used only in aggregate across Network members, including aggregate information on apprentice hires, conversion rates, and demographic information

Be a champion to help encourage other organizations to join the Network

Be a continuous advocate of increasing access to professional careers through non-traditional hiring pathways

Resources
Department of Labor Standards and Case Studies

Division of Apprenticeship Standards

Department of Labor Fact Sheets, Case Studies, and Research

Other Apprentice Networks

Our National Apprentice Playbook: a detailed guide on how to build a professional apprenticeship

The National Apprentice Network

Apprentice Florida

These common elements include:

An apprenticeship provides an individual with a pathway to build a career in a specific occupation, working full-time and earning a discounted wage rate with access to benefits; the apprenticeship includes step increases in pay commensurate with experience in their field and transitioning to continued employment at full wages upon graduating from the apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is an earn and learn model that combines both structured learning with on-the-job training. Many apprenticeable roles are entry-level with career growth; however, apprenticeship models may also support upskilling for more advanced roles within an organization.

An apprenticeship includes industry-recognized credentials and certificates, when relevant for the occupation, incorporated in the technical and on-the-job training, providing portability and recognition by the occupation/industry.

An apprenticeship is a job and apprentices are full-time employees of the hiring company, earning wages with access to benefits.