For Business

With the Baby Boomer population of skilled workers on the verge of retiring, trade-based businesses are struggling to find skilled employees to fill those jobs. Midlands Youth Apprenticeship program helps to solve this problem.

Benefits of Employers Participating in MYA

Employers participating in MYA get the opportunity to expose high school juniors and seniors to company specific on-the-job training. Employers can create recruitment pipelines, decrease costly turnover, and influence, mold, and shape potential future employees to their company culture. MYA lets companies create the next generation of employees. Businesses also receive a $1000 tax credit for each apprentice. The current school district MYA is working with is Richland School District One, Richland School District Two, Lexington School District 2, and Fairfield County School District.

Apprenticeship Tracks

  • Accounting
  • CNA/Nursing Pathway
  • IT Applications Programming
  • IT Systems Networking
  • Mechatronics/ Industrial Mechanic
  • Pharmacy Technician

If your company doesn’t see an Apprenticeship track relevant to your business, MYA can work with you to create the track that you need. Please reach out to Susan McPherson by email for questions or more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Program

An apprenticeship is a combination of paid on-the-job training and job-related-instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation.

The purpose of the Midlands Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program is to connect local high school students with companies interested in starting USDOL Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

All applicants must:

  • Be a high school junior
  • Be approved by their high school to participate
  • Be legally able to work in the United States Complete ACCUPLACER test and achieve minimum scores for the program they are seeking
  • Complete the Apprenticeship Application Package

Benefits

With the Baby Boomer population on the verge of retiring, apprenticeships offer companies the opportunity to provide a roadmap to individuals seeking direction, mentoring and the opportunity to be paid to learn a skill that allows them to earn a living and assist companies in filling critically needed occupations.

  • Access to aspiring apprentices
  • Create crucial recruitment pipelines
  • Decreases costly turnover
  • Influence, mold and shape potential future employees
  • $1,000 tax credits for each apprentice for up to four years

Connecting Apprentices and Employers

  • Aspiring apprentices notify their high school of their interest
  • Aspiring apprentices complete the MYA application and submit to MTC’s admissions office – students may pick up to two Apprenticeship Tracks
  • MTC forwards apprenticeship application and resume to employers
  • Employer will review all applications sent to them and decide who they would like to interview
  • Employer contacts applicants, conducts interviews; and if an offer of employment is made, student begins employment and MTC classes – apprenticeship start date is up to the employer
  • Student graduates with MTC certificate and USDOL Journeyman credential

New apprentices are selected during the spring of 2019 and will start classes in fall of 2019. Apprenticeship start date is up to the employer.

Apprenticeship are for 2 years.

Employer Responsibilities

  • Register the company apprenticeship with the USDOL
  • Grant equal treatment and training opportunities for all aspiring apprentices
  • Have equipment available and rotate apprentices in the various processes of the skilled occupation
  • Identify a mentor for apprentice(s)
  • Interview and hire aspiring apprentices to train in company apprenticeship program
  • Oversee apprentices on-the-job training and monitor attendance at related training classes
  • Periodically review and evaluate apprentices
  • Pay apprentices a scalable wage
  • Recommend Award of Completion certificate when an apprentice has satisfactorily completed the required coursework and on-the-job training

Wage is up to the company but for program consistency, apprenticeship wages should be from $10.00 to $12.00 an hour.

Apprentices should work around 10 hours a week during the school year. On school breaks like spring, summer, and winter breaks, apprentices may work up to 40 hours.

Midlands Youth Apprenticeship students are required to complete Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) applications. After LTA is applied, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce will fund all other tuition costs. The school districts will provide books and supplies.