Raytheon Intelligence & Space, the U.S. Department of Labor and Collin College in McKinney inked a deal Nov. 14 to launch a new Registered Apprenticeship Program for students enrolled at Collin College.
Collin College students will be able to earn touch labor, or hands-on labor, credentials while gaining on-the-job work experience and mentorship over two to three years, according to a news release from Raytheon. More than 100 students are expected to be enrolled in the program within the first five years.
“This Apprenticeship Program will allow students to create some of the most advanced technology in the world—providing unmatched capabilities to our men and women in uniform—and do it while continuing to pursue their education,” said Jeff Place, vice president of operations and supply chain at Raytheon, in the release.
The program is the first of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to offer students work-based training programs for roles such as assembly technicians, precision assemblers and electronics testers, according to the release. Full descriptions of these roles are available here.
“Educating and training a highly skilled workforce is mission critical to support industry growth and success, and apprenticeships enhance and fortify the educational experience,” said Neil Matkin, Collin College district president. “Collin College is honored to stand alongside our partners at Raytheon Intelligence & Space as part of the Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program focusing on Advanced Manufacturing Consortium. We look forward to cultivating a much-needed talent pool that become manufacturing employees.”
The goal of the program is to help address a manufacturing skills gap in Texas. The Texas Workforce Commission reported more than 800,000 touch labor jobs were unfilled in July 2021. The new Apprenticeship Program will address the skills gap at a local level and “continue to position North Texas as a manufacturing hub,” the release stated.
A similar apprenticeship program is also being expanded in Mississippi with Raytheon and the local college system there.
Raytheon has a history of investments in the North Texas region. In 2021 Raytheon opened its new innovation and manufacturing center and announced an expansion project to create a new factory, lab and office space that will open by 2025 and generate 700 additional jobs.
“The launch of a Registered Apprenticeship by Raytheon Intelligence & Space will empower their ability and continue to develop a world-class workforce and reap its benefits,” said Dudley Light, the U.S. Department of Labor’s southwest regional apprenticeship director, in the release. “Registered Apprenticeships are a proven model for preparing people for good-paying jobs and an opportunity for a successful career with leading employers around the nation.”
