What is TVYA?
Tennessee Valley Youth Apprenticeships is a coalition of local education and business partners committed to providing collaborative training programs which develop well-educated students into highly skilled employees. This coalition includes Alcoa City Schools, Blount County Schools, Maryville City Schools, Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC), Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville (TCATK), Blount Partnership, and foundational business partners from our local community. TVYA’s mission is to find and develop a healthy talent pool of qualified employees capable of contributing to a thriving economy. Our vision is to build a youth apprenticeship program that prepares students to meet workforce demands embraced by our business and industry partners.
How Does TVYA Work?
1. Identify Partners
Education partners identify occupations of interest for the community and potential business partners
2. Meetings
Meetings with business partners are held to determine on-the-job-training (OJT) and job-related-education (JRE), wage schedule, and apprentice selection process
3. Qualified Candidates
Education partner advises students/parents of opportunity and identifies qualified candidates
4. Applications
Employer is ready to hire youth apprentices, and contacts education partner to collect applications
5. Interview
Employer interviews and hires student for youth apprenticeships
6. Training
Student begins OJT and JRE (JRE can be high school, community college, or technical college for dual credit courses)
7. Graduate
Student graduates with high school diploma, Department of Labor Credential, and/or other applicable industry certifications
8. Career Skills
Youth apprenticeship graduates have skills for a successful career in a specialized field and can continue with adult apprenticeship, be hired full time with business, or continue their education and training for more advanced credentials or degrees