PRZOOM - /newswire/ - Charleston, SC, United States, 2008/05/13 - Eleven local students celebrated their success after completing the Trident Workforce Investment Board’s Pre-Employment Manufacturing Training.

Eleven local students celebrated their success after completing the Trident Workforce Investment Board’s Pre-Employment Manufacturing Training. Since it’s inception in November 2006, 55 students have completed the training program receiving a manufacturing readiness certificate from Trident Technical College to prepare for careers in the manufacturing industry.

According to TWIB Executive Director Paul L. Connerty, “The Trident Workforce Investment Board’s Pre-Employment Manufacturing Training Program is an exceptional program offering one stop customers the opportunity to train in preparation for careers in the manufacturing industry with businesses in the Charleston area.”

“The demand for skilled manufacturing workers is growing. The skills workers need to remain competitive constantly evolve. This program was designed by Trident Technical College with the help of local manufacturers to make sure what is being learned is what workers need and businesses want their workers to know. This program is an example of the board’s commitment to investing in developing a competent and qualified workforce to help local businesses meet their need for skilled workers.”

Kimberly Martin, Trident One Stop Career System Workforce Specialist, is responsible for recruiting candidates for the training program. “The training provided at Trident Technical College is a catalyst to bridge the skills gap facing several one stop customers who did not possess the workforce skills needed for careers in the manufacturing industry,” said Martin.

“The Pre-Employment Manufacturing Training program is meeting the needs of our manufacturing customers by providing a pool of talent that is one of the most well trained, motivated, and diverse in the state. I believe this program prepares every trainee to succeed in their career choice by improving their skills and raising their confidence level to succeed on the job. We recruit individuals that are interested in manufacturing as a career and that exhibit the enthusiasm and aptitude our business customers want in their workforce.”

“The Pre-Employment Manufacturing Training Program is an extremely successful venture that works because of the outstanding relationships that exist among Trident One Stop Career System, Trident Technical College, and the local businesses hiring program graduates. The program provides graduates with access to well paying jobs as well as opportunities for further training by the employers. As existing companies grow and new ones enter the local market, we will need to deliver more programs and increase the strength of the curriculum so that the graduates remain competitive with the skills needed in the industry,” said Lloyd Kling, Director of Workforce Development, Trident Technical College.

“This has been an excellent opportunity for Trident Technical College, in conjunction with the Trident One Stop, to train workers to meet the needs of local industry,” said Tom Iafrate, Program Leader/Instructor, Trident Technical College Manufacturing, Industrial & Construction Trades.

Following the graduation ceremony, interviews were conducted with representatives from Eaton Corporation, Getrag, MAU, Global Aeronautical, and Stanley Associates. Nearly half of the graduating students were offered employment with local manufacturers. The remaining students are actively interviewing with other companies.

The Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) oversees the Trident One Stop Career System using Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds to pay for the manufacturing training. In addition to acquiring skilled workers through this program companies can receive a wage reimbursement of 50% of the workers wage while they continue their training on the job.

The program is designed to provide entry level job skills to individuals interested in careers in the manufacturing sector. The training consists of 4 weeks of classroom instruction. The classes are held Monday through Friday at Trident Technical College’s main campus. Candidates must undergo a background check, complete high school or their GED and achieve successful scores in Mathematics, Reading for Information, Locating Information and Observation on the WorkKeys® skills assessment test.

The Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) provides funding for programs to develop the regional workforce training workers with advanced skills to meet regional workforce challenges through the Trident One Stop Career System. The Trident One Stop Career System is a nationally recognized workforce development system staffed by some of the best trained workforce professionals in the nation.

The Trident One-Stop Career Center is located at 1930 Hanahan Road in North Charleston. Satellite Centers are located in Moncks Corner, Summerville and Charleston. For more information on available services and programs or to find the center nearest to you, call 843-574-1800

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