The state’s leading premier event focused on apprenticeship programs will be held this month, bringing together experts and workforce professionals from all around the country and spotlighting best practices and potential programs from across the state.

The Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Summit is being organized by the state Department of Labor and Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office.

The Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Summit will be held on Oct. 30-31 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa., and will include discussions around workforce development and how to establish apprenticeship ambassadors, networks, and programs in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) officials attended last year’s inaugural summit. Attracting and retaining talent has been an increased focus for the organization, which recently launched its new Made Possible in Lehigh Valley initiative.

“Apprenticeships are one of the most recommended best practices for preparing the talent pipeline with skills demanded by employers,” said Karianne Gelinas, LVEDC Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Research.

“Organizations that develop their employees may find improved morale, stronger retention, and higher productivity,” she said. “This summit helps us better understand the opportunities that come with apprenticeships, the process required to establish them, and funding available for these types of talent pipeline initiatives.”

Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Summit attendees will learn about apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship program basics, the benefits of starting such programs, and the local, regional, and state resources available to run or grow your program, Ramsay said.

The summit is being organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO), which seeks to improve the skills of the American workforce and enhances the efficiency and productivity of American industries. It marks the second time they have organized this event.

Gelinas attended last year’s summit and has advocated for apprenticeship programs in the past. Last year, LVEDC shared a “quick-start toolkit” for building registered apprenticeship programs, which was released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

LVEDC also helped Bosch Rexroth establish a registered apprenticeship program at one of its Lehigh Valley facilities last year for students who had recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or related fields.

LVEDC is among several partner organizations that collaborate when it comes to establishing apprenticeships in the Lehigh Valley. Others include the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, the Keystone Development Partnership, the region’s postsecondary schools, and regional employers.

Blocks of hotel rooms are available for the summit, and online reservations can be made here. Additional details can be found on the registration page.