IECRM and IEC National Celebrate the First Annual Apprenticeship Week

Nov. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- DENVER, CO. – The Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), an organizational leader in apprenticeship, is proud to celebrate the first ever National Apprenticeship Week. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), IEC chapters will be holding events throughout the week and communicating the importance of apprenticeship.

“IEC’s Four-Year Apprenticeship Program has been transformative and has helped build the foundation of our Nation’s economy,” said IEC National Executive Vice President/CEO Thayer Long. “In 2015, we will educate more than 8,000 apprentices in our 50 training centers. These apprentices have the benefit of learning from formal instruction in the classroom from the highly-regarded IEC National Curriculum and on-the-job learning in the field.”

Apprenticeship is an “earn and learn” training model that combines work-based learning with related classroom teaching using the highest industry standards. IEC is one of the nation’s leaders in apprenticeship. In addition to providing hands-on training for the future leaders of the electrical industry, IEC is helping shape America’s apprenticeship programs. IEC is part of the registered apprenticeship college consortium, has a member on the DOL’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, and recently participated in the ApprenticeshipUSA Summit at the White House.

The U.S. currently has approximately 375,000 apprentices working with more than 150,000 employers. Last year, President Obama established a goal of doubling the number of Apprenticeships within five years. The inaugural National Apprenticeship Week is one of several initiatives helping achieve that goal.

To commemorate National Apprenticeship Week, Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM), will be conducting a two-night workshop called “It’s Electric!” at its Denver location on November 4th and 11th, 2015. The “It’s Electric” workshop will introduce high school students and participants of the Adams County 9 to 5 Experience to the electrical industry and IECRM’s apprenticeship program.

“It’s good to know that we are recognizing our next generation of apprentices, without knowledgeable, prepared and safe tradesmen, we would have nothing to build on. Each apprentice entering into the electrical industry has a bright future and career ahead of them!” said Paul Lingo, Training Director of IECRM.

Visit www.ieci.org (http://www.ieci.org/40-under-40-winners) to learn about IEC National.

Or, visit www.iecrm.org to learn more about IECRM.

About Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM)

Since 1981, the Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) has been the leading electrical and renewable energy contractor association in Colorado. Representing over 200 member companies responsible for $2B annually, and educating over 1000 electrical apprentices and licensed electricians annually, IECRM is dedicated to educating, promoting, and advancing the electrical industry.

IECRM, located in Denver, Colorado, is a chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), a national trade association for merit shop electrical and systems contractors.