Latest news with #Apprenti
Business Wire
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Apprenti and SHRM Foundation Partner to Expand HR Apprenticeship Opportunities Through HR RAP
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Apprenti and the SHRM Foundation are partnering to expand the Human Resources Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP)— a scalable, earn-and-learn model that opens the door to long-term careers in human resources. The new collaboration, Apprenti + SHRM Foundation HR RAP, brings together Apprenti's proven track record in launching and managing Registered Apprenticeship Programs and SHRM Foundation's deep expertise in human resources and talent development. Together, they're making it easier for employers to build a future-ready HR workforce and for individuals to access high-quality training and career advancement. HR RAP blends classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job experience - creating a hands-on learning pathway that benefits both apprentices and employers. For businesses, it's a cost-effective way to upskill talent. For individuals, it's a chance to gain real-world HR experience while earning a paycheck. 'The SHRM Foundation has created a thoughtful model for HR career development,' said Jennifer Carlson, Executive Director of Apprenti. 'We're proud to bring Apprenti's national infrastructure and expertise to help expand HR RAP, ensuring more employers and job seekers can benefit from this hands-on, work-based pathway into the HR profession.' The need for HR talent is growing. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 86,200 job openings for HR professionals each year, and the field is expected to grow by 8% through 2033—twice the national average. However, many employers struggle to find candidates with the right combination of skills and experience. HR RAP was created to fill that gap. 'Teaming up with Apprenti allows us to reach more employers and future HR professionals through an established, trusted apprenticeship infrastructure,' said Wendi Safstrom, President, SHRM Foundation. 'Together, we can accelerate the development of tomorrow's HR leaders.' Apprenti will provide the operational backbone to help scale the program nationally, while the SHRM Foundation will continue to contribute industry-led HR content and assist with employer engagement. The Apprenti + SHRM Foundation HR RAP partnership is committed to shaping a stronger HR workforce pipeline for the future. To learn more or get involved, visit
Technical.ly
28-01-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly tech leaders reveal how they're changing HR to future-proof their workforce
Philadelphia's future workforce depends on collaboration and early outreach, especially to better engage underrepresented communities. Some organizations have begun tackling those issues by centering employees' voices. Others are focusing on apprenticeships for individuals from nontraditional backgrounds, according to executives from software company Boomi, Comcast, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and the University City Science Center at a Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) panel last week. 'The more that we are doing to expose people to opportunities, support them through the very real barriers of representation as well as [the] very real barriers of life,' said Nikki Pumphrey, the Chamber's vice president of talent and workforce, in reference to barriers to entry for talent. Each company has its own unique approach. Comcast's Project UP, for instance, is a billion-dollar commitment to digital equity and economic development. Boomi partnered with PACT on its Apprenti program to bring more people into the sector. And at the Science Center, the FirstHand program puts a new emphasis on youth-oriented STEM learning with aims to diversify Philadelphia's talent pipeline. This work is coming at a critical moment. Major employers are confronting significant hiring gaps and a mismatch between available roles and local skill sets. Access to quality jobs, both technical and otherwise, remains uneven, but the city's existing infrastructure offers plenty of room for cross-sector partnerships, panelists said. 'We can make sure that the net that we're building for our young people and our young adults is secure, so again, fewer people go through,' said Alina Ispas Montbriand, senior director of project strategy and operations at Boomi. New entry-level pathways to strengthen the workforce Workforce development conversations have intensified as Philadelphia looks to remain competitive in a rapidly shifting economy. Many local workers face barriers such as housing or food insecurity, which makes retraining difficult, panelists said. Yet momentum is building around new ways into the workforce like apprenticeships, long-term mentorship and inclusive hiring processes. The Chamber and partner organizations have been addressing these challenges for years, but now they're joined by a growing number of tech firms and nonprofits. Each one is seeking to meet the city's demand for skilled labor while advancing equity. There's room for growth, however, by using data to define future strategies. Pairing quantitative impact metrics with anecdotal employee experiences can make the case for new investments or expansions, panelists said. Despite progress, panelists warned of a healthcare workforce deficit that could worsen without a unified approach. They emphasized that in the next five years, nearly every job will require new skills. Growing companies must incorporate diversity and inclusion from the start, they said, rather than retrofitting these goals later. 'It makes me so excited to hear when people are starting and growing businesses, because you don't have any of the infrastructure,' Pumphrey said. 'You could do whatever you want. You could build it however you want. You could bake in equity at the ground floor.' Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
