Schott Launches US Apprenticeship Program

Schott North America Inc. has selected nine apprentices for a pilot program at its Duryea facility created to help build the next generation of manufacturers.

The program offers young people a combination of practical experience and classroom training in specialized skills. The inaugural class will work full-time in the Duryea plant for two to three years, receive full benefits, and take classes both in person and online through partnerships with local schools, the company said.

The apprentices, selected from 250 applicants, can learn one of three tracks while working toward journeyman certification: trades-glass operator generalist, mason-metalsmith or maintenance-machinist. Applicants are required to be 18 years old and hold a high school diploma.

“Many high school and college graduates are struggling to find a good job with a living wage,” said Anne Marie Martin, an HR specialist at Schott. “Too many are caught in the catch-22 that is often the hiring process: to find work, they need experience, but they can only gain experience from working.”

Schott’s program is based on the German model of apprenticeship. Its German facilities welcome new apprentices each year, and Schott plans to establish these programs at their other US manufacturing facilities.

For more information, visit: www.us.schott.com