The Detroit Regional Chamber is proud to partner with Accenture and Detroit at Work to launch the Detroit New Apprentice (DNA) Network, a collective of Michigan-based employers and training providers working together to raise awareness of apprenticeship programs as a talent solution. Greg Handel, the Chamber’s vice president of Education and Talent, participated in the launch of the Detroit program on July 20.
To reach the Chamber’s goal to increase postsecondary attainment to 60% and reduce the racial equity gap by half by 2030, this effort will need employer-driven, innovative approaches to creating equitable pathways into good jobs. DNA’s goal is to create 500 apprenticeships in the next five years, and it is looking for employers to commit to developing or expanding programs with help from the Network.
Together, these groups are reaching untapped talent pools, providing greater access to digital economy jobs, and helping reskill workers whose jobs have been, or will be, disrupted by technology.
Accenture’s findings show that a concerted effort by employers, educators, and nonprofit partners to build and promote apprenticeship programs can fundamentally change the professional trajectory for millions of Americans – and the economy as a whole.
“Professional apprenticeships play a critical role in closing the skills gap in Michigan, helping companies diversify and secure the workforce they need to grow, and providing underserved groups greater access to innovation economy jobs,” says Dan Garrison, senior managing director at Accenture.
Furthermore, a robust apprenticeship program can provide companies with numerous benefits, including:
- Access to a highly motivated and productive talent pool that is more likely to stay with your company compared to talent from traditional sources.
- Ability to provide underrepresented groups greater access to innovation-economy jobs.
- Flexibility to source talent all year long versus the cyclicality of traditional degree sources.
- Ability to drive workforce development and economic opportunities where we work and live, including reskilling for people whose jobs are disrupted by technology-led innovation.
- Ability to build deeper relationships with clients and the community.
To learn more about DNA and to get started in your apprenticeship program, visit https://www.accenture.com/us-en/about/company/apprenticeships.