We’re thrilled to witness the success many of you have experienced with your registered youth apprenticeship programs through GAP. It’s great to know you found our partnership essential in solving talent pipeline issues and building a skilled workforce. By adding apprentices to your teams, you’ve filled key roles, boosted productivity, and found an effective HR strategy.
Your collaboration means a lot to us. If you know other employers who might want to take advantage of the same support and results, please refer them to GAP. Sharing your positive experiences can help us all grow stronger together.
Below, you’ll find an easy, step-by-step process for referring other companies to GAP.
Step 1: Explore Opportunities To Refer Companies to GAP
Referring GAP to other companies brings many benefits to you.
By expanding our roster of partners, we build a stronger network where we can all share insights and learn from each other during our monthly member meetings and other events. This collaboration enhances GAP’s network of companies, making us a more appealing choice for high school juniors and seniors. This, in turn, expands the talent pool for selecting apprentices. Plus, it strengthens the Guilford community as a whole, driving economic growth and creating more opportunities for everyone.
You can open conversations in…
Business Expos & Trade Shows
Industry Conferences & Seminars
Local Community Forums & Meetings
Job Fairs & Recruitment Events
Some questions or topics to ask about:
- How are you handling knowledge transfer with your seasoned talent retiring or leaving?
- What are you doing to stay competitive with new companies entering the talent market?
- What have you done to improve your recruitment channels to get better applicants?
- How do you attract more qualified candidates and manage their expectations?
- How are you adapting to new technology and training new hires to stay competitive?
If they have expressed challenges in these areas and are open to finding a solution, this is a perfect opportunity to share your success in establishing a registered youth apprenticeship program by implementing GAP’s proven model.
By highlighting the positive impact of a GAP partnership on your business — such as:
- Increased ROI
- Better knowledge transfer
- Stronger talent pool
- Having a long-term, cost-effective, HR solution
You can inspire others to explore this valuable collaboration while reaping the benefits of our expanded network.
Here are key points to encourage companies to partner with GAP:
As an employer, you recognize that creating and sustaining a strong talent pipeline is becoming increasingly complex. Use this opportunity to relate to these realities, and feel free to choose any of these benefits that resonate with you the most while sharing your real-world stories of success.
Apprenticeship can give your company a strategic operating advantage.
Having a registered youth apprenticeship program through GAP provides a strong ROI by addressing short-term gaps while supporting long-term strategies. In addition, you can grow your talent pipeline, provide a systematic knowledge transfer for your employees, and invigorate the company culture.
The GAP ecosystem can help maximize your investment in apprenticeship.
Through GAP’s comprehensive ecosystem, you can connect with partner companies, community resources, state organizations, and high schools, build a robust talent pool, access grants, and share expertise, ensuring your apprenticeship program thrives and strengthens the community.
GAP’s proven model helps you implement a registered youth apprenticeship program.
You can benefit from our reliable model of supporting employers in building a registered youth apprenticeship program. We’ll help you with these key components:
- Business involvement, where apprentices are paid employees with mentors,
- On-the-job training to grow their skills,
- Apprentices receiving formal education through Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC),
- Wage progression as skills and performance improve, and
- Apprentices earning nationally recognized and transferable credentials.
GAP will guide us through the ramp-up and implementation process.
A GAP membership provides a full-scale support system, including initial orientation for starting your registered youth apprenticeship program, mentoring through the implementation process, monthly meetings with partnering companies, and access to a talent pool of qualified high school students.
Many local companies have found the GAP model to be an effective HR strategy.
Our partnering companies in various industries take on several apprentices annually, creating a dynamic talent and leadership pipeline across multiple roles. This HR strategy through GAP has proven success stories from organizations like Lincoln Financial, Volvo, LC America, and Ziehl-Abegg.
“We benefited from GAP’s strong network of companies with proven apprenticeship programs. Through this network, we were able to participate in group community nights, collaborate, learn from each other, and discuss similar challenges and solutions.”
– Layel Burton, Apprenticeship Coordinator, Ziehl-Abegg
“Our partnership with GAP, though only in its fourth year, is already bearing fruit. We are on track to achieve a 100 percent retention rate, which is a testament to the program’s success. I firmly believe this apprenticeship holds great potential to become a key component of our long-term talent pipeline as we continue to develop and mature the program.”
– Christian Ingram, IT Apprenticeship Program Manager, Lincoln Financial Group
Step 3: Encourage a Discussion with GAP
After sharing your experience, you can encourage other employers to explore a GAP partnership. Handing them a GAP referral business card lets them quickly learn more by scanning the QR code. You can conclude the conversation by reminding them of the partnership’s unique benefits — they can build a skilled workforce while strengthening our communities and local economies. If they have questions, encourage them to contact us—we’re here to help with any questions and guide them through becoming a GAP partner.
Thank you for helping to strengthen our growing network!