Workforce development resources

The Apprentice School

Founded in 1919, The Apprentice School in Newport News has trained 11,000 shipyard workers over its long history. The school at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division offers four-, five- and eight-year paid apprenticeships in 19 shipbuilding disciplines and eight advanced programs of study, including supply chain management and marine engineering. Apprentices complete 1,000 hours of coursework and a minimum of 7,000 hours of on-the-job training. as.edu

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia

Goodwill’s Hampton Employment Center provides assistance to and opportunities for job seekers facing challenges to work to apply for open Goodwill positions in retail, support, janitorial, logistics and more. Goodwill’s Begin@Home model is focused on delivering workforce development opportunities while individuals earn a paycheck. Begin@Home is composed of programs that support on-the-job paid training, skills building and career plan development with the assistance of a dedicated career adviser. goodwillvirginia.edu

Hampton Roads Workforce Council

The Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board oversees federally funded workforce development programs for all localities in the Hampton Roads region. The job board offers hiring opportunities, and the council offers general workforce services in varying locations like financial coaching, matching job seekers with employers and hosting workshops covering résumés, job interviews, salaries and other topics. The board operates the Hampton Roads Veterans Employment Center and offers programs for people ages 14 to 24, called NextGen Pathways. theworkforcecouncil.org

Paul D. Camp Community College

The community college’s division of workforce development offers options for employers and workers in western Hampton Roads. The college offers courses to gain industry credentials, professional certifications and licenses in various professions, including commercial driving, health care, logistics, IT security and welding. For businesses, the college offers customized workforce training, either on-site or at one of its four training facilities. pdc.edu/workforce-development

Tidewater Community College

Employers can book customized training on-site, on campus or online, and TCC can provide classroom space, mechatronic and welding labs, trucks or motorcycles. The college offers a job-skills training program as well as a variety of short-term workforce training courses in advanced manufacturing, business, construction, health care, hospitality and others. Maritime and transportation programs include training to earn a commercial driver’s license and the U.S. Coast Guard’s operator of uninspected passenger vehicles license, which is required for anyone operating a vessel carrying up to six passengers for hire. Business courses include paralegal, OSHA and real estate license trainings. workforce.tcc.edu

Virginia Peninsula Community College

Formerly Thomas Nelson Community College, Virginia Peninsula’s workforce development program provides customized workforce-training options for employers and short-term career training for workers on the Peninsula. The college offers training programs for companies on-site, online or at its locations in Hampton and Williamsburg. Courses and programs include manufacturing and trade skills, culinary arts, business and entrepreneurship, technology and health care. VPCC now also offers Ed2Go, online short courses and certification programs. VPCC is an American Welding Society-accredited testing facility with a certified welding inspector who can conduct the certification.
vpcc.edu/workforce