Advancing Apprenticeships: Fostering a Strong-Talent Economy
Agenda
All times are Central.
Thursday, Oct. 29
8:30 a.m. Registration, Networking and Breakfast
9:05 a.m. Welcome and Overview
9:15 a.m. Opening Keynote: Building Better Apprenticeships: What Works and What’s Next
Learn about apprenticeship programs across the country, including what’s working best in this moment. Hear about key facts and trends, what makes a good apprenticeship, and ways to help more people and businesses use these programs. The fireside Q&A that follows will be an exploratory conversation about removing barriers and making apprenticeships easier for everyone.
10:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Employer Panel Discussion
Hear from business owners who have hired apprentices and created earn-and-learn programs at their companies. Learn how these employers partnered with schools and community groups to train new workers while growing their businesses. Discover what worked, what challenges they faced, and how these programs helped both workers and companies succeed.
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Statewide Apprenticeship Models Panel Discussion
State leaders who are creating and growing apprenticeship programs in communities will share their experiences. Learn about best practices, challenges they face, and results they see for workers and businesses. Leave with helpful ideas and new connections for building programs that help people find good jobs and meet your community’s needs.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Networking Lunch and Apprenticeship Panel Session
Apprentices and career-changers will share directly how the programs they attended changed their career paths. They will discuss what worked well for them and what they found challenging. These honest conversations can shape better programs that help more young people succeed.
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Interactive Breakout Sessions
Concurrent Breakout A: Working with Vulnerable Populations
High-wage careers in healthcare, manufacturing and the skilled trades remain out of reach for many who need them most. Disconnected youth, individuals with disabilities, and justice-involved individuals face formidable barriers—from weak networks and criminal records to transportation gaps and workplace discrimination—that even tight labor markets cannot overcome. This interactive session spotlights organizations successfully breaking down these barriers. Through rapid-fire case studies and collaborative tabletop discussions, you’ll explore proven strategies for creating apprenticeship programs that expand your talent pipeline while driving economic growth for our most vulnerable populations.
Concurrent Breakout B: Working with Community and Technical Colleges
Join colleagues at the forefront of workforce transformation to discover how community and technical colleges can serve as springboards for rethinking apprenticeships, creating pathways that move workers from survival to stability while meeting our region’s critical talent needs. This dynamic session showcases how forward-thinking educational institutions are partnering with employers and workforce leaders to redesign apprenticeship models, align training with real opportunities, and create comprehensive support systems that meet learners where they are.
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Financial Apprenticeships Panel Discussion
Hear from financial institutions, impact investors and philanthropic organizations about why they support apprenticeship programs and how these programs help people and communities thrive. Learn what funders look for when deciding to support a program and how to build strong partnerships between businesses and community groups. Discover how funders use their role to reduce risk and provide resources to reach people who need these opportunities the most.
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Closing Remarks
We will review key insights from employers, state leaders, funders and young apprentices themselves about what has worked and what challenges remain. Closing remarks will share next steps and learnings about partnerships to help expand apprenticeships and create opportunities across communities.
The opinions and statements expressed are those of the speakers and are intended only for informational purposes. They do not reflect official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.