AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor is hosting the Inaugural Maine Apprenticeship Summit next month to kickoff National Apprenticeship Week.

The upcoming day-long summit will feature a keynote address, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Prospective sponsors will have the chance to hear from current Apprenticeship Program sponsors about how they run their programs and some tips and best practices for implementing apprenticeships. There will also be advisors on site to meet with anyone who is hoping to learn more about the workforce development program.

The Maine Apprenticeship Program is for all types of industries – including healthcare, construction, manufacturing, clean energy and infrastructure, education, hospitality, and IT. Working with a team, businesses can train the employees they need to fit their unique skill sets.

“Registered Apprenticeship is a proven strategy to connect employers with potential employees, and retain them,” said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman, in a Maine DOL news release. “Apprenticeship programs are an opportunity to train new hires and/or advance existing employees into more highly skilled positions. Our goal is to expand these successful partnerships, and hope employers will attend the summit to learn more.”

The summit will take place on Monday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Augusta Civic Center. The DOL is inviting businesses, industry associations, unions, workforce partners, education providers, and community-based organizations to attend. Tickets are $25 per person – with scholarships available when needed.  

Attendees will have several chances to network, hear about new opportunities, and learn tips and tricks for individualized programming.

The Maine Apprenticeship Program aims to support Maine businesses to help them create impactful programming and retain apprentices as fulltime employees once their program is complete. The MAP also supports employers through the federal certification process.

You can learn more about the event and register online at MAPsummit.com.

What: Inaugural Maine Apprenticeship Summit

When: Monday, November 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

Who: Businesses, industry associates, unions, workforce partners, education providers, and community-based organizations