Page 8 - SRNS Today January 2022

8 | SRNS TODAY | JANUARY 2022

Rapidly growing apprenticeship

programs create local jobs

H igh school and college students, the unemployed and accomplish all of this for the Department of Energy.”
underemployed are taking charge of their futures through
Alford noted that other companies at SRS, such as Battelle
Registered Apprenticeship Programs now available
throughout the region as well as at SRS. Savannah River Alliance and Savannah River Mission Completion, are
establishing apprenticeship programs as well.
“To ensure the development of a viable workforce within the South “The credentials you earn as a registered apprentice are invaluable,”
Carolina counties of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield said Janéssa Smith, SRNS Human Resources Operations. “In fact,
and Orangeburg, several companies and organizations are partnering depending on the job profile you pursue, you can be accepted into
to establish 300 Registered Apprenticeships,” said Sean Alford, SRNS our program with zero experience. We will provide all the training you
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
need. At which point, you now own a portable credential proving you
SRNS is striving to ensure approximately one-third of these can do the work for any company needing that skillset.”
apprenticeships will be at SRS. Erik Christensen, President and CEO of Swiss Krono in Barnwell,
Apprenticeships allow companies to establish a learning path for explained that his company has a long tradition of employing
participants while the students pursue a technical education and obtain apprentices from local high schools.
paid on-the-job experience. Unlike most internships, apprenticeships “This year we invested more heavily in the program having just
promote and document knowledge transfer and provide the participants hired 12 high school youth apprentices. The program is really well
with proof of skill mastery as a portable Department of Labor (DOL) received. It benefits the students, the high schools and guidance
credential. Apprenticeships also allow organizations the opportunity to counselors, and certainly us, here at Swiss Krono,” said Christensen.
build the workforce they desire for decades to come.
“The students get a chance to learn about the different career
“Apprenticeship Carolina and the Lower Savannah Council of opportunities while on the job, and we get the chance to get to know
Governments have played an important part toward making this goal them with the intent of hiring them after their high school graduation.
a reality. I believe our collective efforts have resulted in a magnificent The long-term value of this employment concept is clear to us.”
job of designing and converting job functions into DOL-approved “We are pleased to partner with SRNS, Apprenticeship Carolina and
apprenticeships that will benefit all involved,” added Alford. officials within the South Carolina Technical College System to help
Since the Production Operator apprenticeship job profile was champion an employment solution with local, regional and state-wide
established at SRNS in 2020, 13 additional profiles have been impact through this important cause,” said Andre Anderson, Lower
approved: Software Engineer, Records Management Clerk, Process Savannah Council of Governments.
Software Engineer, Systems Engineer, Computer Systems Support, Since July 2019, the number of companies within Aiken, Allendale,
Maintenance Mechanic, Fire Protection Engineer, E&I Technician, Bamberg and Barnwell counties alone have tripled, and a ten-fold
Process Control Technologist, Radiological Protection Inspector, increase in DOL occupation profiles have been created. “Even with
Network Operations Engineer, Cybersecurity Engineer and Supply Chain the trials brought about due to COVID-19, on-the-job training, worked
Management Resource. And the list continues to grow.
concurrent with obtaining a technical certificate or degree, has
“We have several important missions to fulfill at SRS involving the proven to be a highly successful alternative to a traditional four-
protection of our nation and the cleanup of Cold War-era waste year degree. Apprenticeship programs have innovatively created a
sites,” said Alford. “And, we have a need to fill a wide range of career path leading to well-paying jobs and a highly trained, reliable
job pipelines with enthusiastic candidates, to safely and securely workforce for the future,” said Alford.

SRNS Nuclear
Production Operator
Apprentice Program
graduate Kevin
Thomas uses training
equipment to simulate
work practices WATCH THE VIDEOS:
performed by full- Go to the SRS YouTube channel, youtube.com/SRSNews.
service employees at
the Site. To find multiple videos, search for “SRNS Apprenticeship Program.”