October 26, 2018—Frankfort, KY.
Australia’s WPC Group is providing ongoing training to the Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship team and members of the Commonwealth’s business community. The WPC Group was established in 1982 for the purposes of advancing an apprenticeship 
training model. Since their establishment, they have placed nearly 15,000 apprentices in stable careers throughout Australia. WPC Group is part of the IWSI Group.
The Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship Program team members are working to establish Employer Partner Networks throughout the Commonwealth in order to expand apprenticeship availability to better meet the contemporary needs of businesses. Also known internationally as Group Training Organizations (GTOs) and intermediaries, the Employer Partner Networks work with businesses to thoroughly assess workforce needs and develop a labor force of apprentices to meet current skills gaps. The Employer Partner Network members provide comprehensive services to apprentices as well, such as career assessment and placement, locating appropriate Required Training Instruction, providing intensive mentoring, and offering wrap-around service providers to further support the needs of the apprentices.
The Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship team has established four Employer Partner Network members this year, including the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, Organic Grassroots, Corp., Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky, and C-TECH, Inc. Organic Grassroots, Corp. and the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky joined the training class held October 25 & 26, along with Edwards Rigging, who desired to learn more about the Registered Apprenticeship Program in general.
The CEO of IWSI, Nicholas Wyman, was on hand to provide the training along with veteran apprenticeship manager, Janine McPhee. Wyman has spent the last twenty years consulting, writing, and speaking about the apprentice careers. He is the author of Job U: Find Your Path to a Successful Career in a Tough Job Market. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes magazine. McPhee is an experienced trainer with more than ten years of experience in managing large-scale apprenticeship placements for companies such as Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Esso and Exxon Mobil in Australia.
The Kentucky Registered Apprenticeship team members are Diana Jarboe, Tracy Osborne Clay, Brenda Demic and Stephen Tressler. The Program is housed under Secretary Derrick K. Ramsey at the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, Department of Workforce Investment, and is directed by Dr. Deborah Williamson. Dr Robert Lerman at Washington D.C. Urban Institute is providing technical expertise and support to the Apprenticeship and workforce programs.
The training was funded in part with the State Apprenticeship Expansion Continuation Grant awarded to Kentucky from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Publication for State Journal, Shelbyville Sentinel, Bullitt, Anderson and Pike County Papers and National Newsletters & Maher and Maher Publications.
