Alarm.com launches apprenticeship program

In cooperation with Northern Virginia Community College, Tysons-based Alarm.com launched an apprenticeship program Friday aimed at producing workers with in-demand tech skills.

Supported by the state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative, 10 initial apprentices, including three from the military community, will participate in Alarm.com’s paid yearlong apprenticeship program. They will receive 10 weeks of technical instruction at Northern Virginia Community College and nine months of on-the-job training from the home security and technology company.

The public-private partnership is designed as a template for businesses having trouble finding talent amid the current tight labor market.

“We’re cultivating sustainable talent that’s rich with intelligence, aptitude, grit and perseverance. Everyone at Alarm.com will be cheering on our apprentices during their journey and is excited to see the apprenticeship program flourish,” said Victoria Schillinger, Alarm.com’s vice president of human resources.

Megan Healy, Virginia’s chief workforce development advisor, spoke at the launch event held Friday at Alarm.com’s headquarters. At a time when Northern Virginia has such a low unemployment rate, she said, “you have to grow your talent, particularly in the tech sector.” She noted that tech companies are so competitive that “when we tell them Alarm.com is doing this, everyone else will do it too.”

With college tuition costs escalating, apprenticeships offer an alternative for aspiring tech workers, Schillinger said. And the program also increases the Alarm.com’s diversity, she added, pointing out that the 10 apprentices come from backgrounds ranging from the military, sales and biology to playing the violin professionally.

“We know that there is a dire need for tech talent in our region,” said Anne Kress, president of Northern Virginia Community College, who was present at the launch event held Friday for the apprenticeship program. “NOVA and Alarm.com are excited to launch an innovative talent development solution designed to meet this growing need for highly skilled employees. At NOVA, we’ve had more than 200 individuals over the last two years progress through our new Tech Apprenticeship initiative and we are thrilled to see this number grow with the addition of Alarm.com’s new apprentices.”

“There are more than 100,000 job openings right now in Northern Virginia, half of them in technical fields, so the need for connecting companies with talent is obvious,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “I congratulate Alarm.com, Northern Virginia Community College, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the state government for taking the lead on the kind of collaboration the region needs to meet the growing demand for tech-savvy workers.”

Alarm.com employs more than 600 workers at its Tysons headquarters. The company creates smart security systems that allow consumers and businesses to manage and control their property from any location.