Greater Boston Equitable Apprenticeship Pathways
Connecting residents to apprenticeship opportunities.
Greater Boston Equitable Apprenticeship Pathways will connect Boston residents to pre-apprenticeship opportunities over a four year grant period. This pilot is funded by the Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant. The ABA grant is a four year $3M grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor supporting pre-apprenticeship programs leading to Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) from community partners in four industries:
- construction,
- hospitality,
- healthcare, and
- life sciences.
The Office of Workforce Development manages this grant and the pre-apprenticeship programs are run by partner organizations. Our partners are BEST Hospitality Training, Boston Emergency Medical Services, YouthBuild Boston, and MassBioEd. These organizations are industry leaders that provide exceptional career training opportunities.
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About the Pre-Apprenticeships
The pre-apprenticeships will provide:
- invaluable training
- career services
- social services, and
- networking opportunities.
Residents should apply directly to the pre-apprenticeships they are interested in on the partner's website. Eligibility requirements vary for each program. Program deadlines and locations also vary. Residents should visit the website of the program(s) they are interested in to learn more. There, you will also find information about program timelines, how to apply, and details on the mission of each partner organization.
Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
BEST Introduction to Hospitality, Housekeeping Program
This 150 hour, six-week, full time program trains participants for positions in hotel housekeeping. It offers hands-on skills training in:
- ergonomics
- chemical safety and blood-borne pathogens
- cross-cultural communication skills
- computer skills
- interview skills, and
- much more.
Upon completion, graduates work with career coaches on their job search. BEST seeks to place graduates in full-time, union hotel housekeeping positions with most starting at a minimum of $25/hour. Once graduates are placed at a partner hotel, they complete their apprenticeship. They also receive a Massachusetts Department of Labor Division of Apprentice Standards Housekeeping Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship completion credential. Graduates pursuing a hospitality management certificate or associate's degree at Bunker Hill Community College can receive up to 12 college credits.
The next Introduction to Hospitality, Housekeeping Pre-Apprenticeship class begins on April 29, 2024.
MassBioEd
MassBioEd’s Pre-Apprenticeship program is a pathway to MassBioEd’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, which prepares participants for Biomanufacturing Technician, Clinical Trial Associate, and Laboratory Support Specialist positions. Expansion of the Biomanufacturing Technician and Clinical Trial Associate apprenticeships will provide more opportunities for those who have historically been left out of the industry. Employer partners of the MassBioEd Life Sciences Apprenticeship program represent a range of life sciences companies including AbbVie, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Arranta Bio, Blueprint Medicines, Bristol Myers Squibb, Corning Life Sciences, Covis Pharma, Ginkgo Bioworks, Halloran Consulting, Jounce Therapeutics, Magenta Therapeutics, MassBiologics, Pfizer, Replimune, Rentschler, Surface Oncology, Takeda, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Boston EMS / EMT Training Program
This pre-apprenticeship training will be offered through the Boston EMS EMT program, a full-time, paid cadet program. Currently, there is a statewide shortage of EMTs. Through active community engagement and recruitment Boston EMS aims to increase the number of individuals who enroll in EMT training as a pathway to employment in EMS. Starting pay for new EMT hires is about $30/hour. These jobs also provide annual step increases and percentage wage increases and opportunities to earn additional income through working overtime.
Please note: Boston EMS EMT training program is offered in January and August of each year and takes 6 months to complete.
YouthBuild Boston Pre-Apprenticeship
YouthBuild Boston's 15-week program is for young people aged 18-25 who have their high school diploma or equivalent and are interested in starting a career in the construction industry. Students gain field experience on real construction sites to ensure that they are ready for employment in the field upon graduation. This intensive program includes onsite construction training, training center visits, and professional development workshops. Certifications provided include OSHA-10 certification, CPR/First Aid/AED certification, Fall Safety training, and more. Workshops will cover everything from metal stud framing to Networking 101. This pre-apprenticeship training is designed to lead to full-time construction positions, apprenticeship opportunities in union-level jobs, and other meaningful careers in the trades.
The program begins in June 2024.
Partners
BEST Hospitality Training
Provides education, skills, and training in the hospitality industry.
MassBioEd
Building a sustainable life sciences workforce.
Boston EMS
Boston's municipal Emergency Medical Service.
YouthBuild Boston
Provides underserved young people with the support and credentials to enter the construction and design industry.
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
