Case Study: Bolster Apprenticeship Pipelines with English Upskilling

Apprenticeships connect workers with jobs in high-demand fields and boost employers’ bottom lines. Yet across the country, English barriers keep adult English learners — a talent pool that now represents 1 in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. — from accessing these high-impact programs. An innovative pre-apprenticeship program with Maine-based Lewiston Adult Education is closing the gap. 

Lewiston’s program connects adult English learners — who represent 57 countries and speak 43 languages other than English — with a mix of career skills, English skills, digital literacy, and workforce readiness courses. Participants earn a series of industry-recognized health credentials, culminating in placement as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) apprentices with area hospitals and long-term care facilities. 

Lewiston tapped EnGen to bolster participants’ career-aligned English skills and digital skills. The program is now expanding to the education and finance sectors, connecting more adult English learners with career pathways in high-demand fields.

“We are thrilled that certified pre-apprenticeship programs, like the one at Lewiston Adult Education, are opening doors for multi-lingual learners and other under-represented populations to enter registered apprenticeship programs in Maine.” – Joan Dolan, Director of Apprenticeship at the Maine Department of Labor

EnGen partners with local government agencies, workforce development boards, employers, and community colleges to power apprenticeship pipelines across the country. Learn how EnGen can work for your organization. https://getengen.com/contact-us