Workforce Apprenticeship Opportunity

What Apprenticeship Program is Being Offered?

Downstream Biomanufacturing Technicians finalize production – harvesting, testing, purifying, and packaging the product
Downstream Manufacturing Technicians harvest and purify recombinant proteins or other products that are obtained from the upstream cell expression systems. The downstream purification process starts with material from the initial harvest and finishes with pre-formulation and the pure product. These technicians follow defined steps in order to produce as much material as possible, while minimizing loss. Their goals are to produce a pure product, with a high yield, in an efficient manner.

On the job training: Every program includes flexible on-the-job training that allows the apprentice to learn over time and become fully proficient at the job.
Related technical instruction: Apprentices participate in technical and academic instruction that complements their on-the-job training.
Mentorship: Apprentices train under the supervision and mentorship of individuals and teams that offer not only technical knowledge, but also unique experiential perspectives that come from years of industry involvement.
Reward for skill gains: Registered apprentices receive incremental pay increases as they reach milestones in their capabilities and they develop their skills and knowledge.
National occupational credential: Every graduate of a registered apprenticeship program receives a nationally recognized certificate of completion signed by the Governor.

Registered Apprenticeship programs (RAP) benefit both employers and career seekers. For employers, RAPs offer the opportunity to:

Create flexible training options that ensure workers develop skills that meet your company’s needs and standards.
Improve productivity, profitability, and your bottom line.
Recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce that helps you grow your business.
Reduce turnover, improve loyalty, and retain top talent.
Vet workers and instill your company’s culture.

If the jobs you are hiring for fit within the following criteria, using an apprenticeship program is an effective solution to develop your workforce.

Jobs that require specific, hard to acquire skills
Positions with high turnover
Occupations with a large population of retiring, highly-skilled workers
Challenges training workers in a rapidly evolving industry
Positions that require skills that can be learned on the job Difficulty attracting new and more diverse talent pools

ROI: national average $1.48 for every $1 spent; in Kansas ROI is $2.13!
92% employment retention rate after completion of the apprenticeship program
The combination RAP elements create a successful pipeline of qualified workers that directly supports employer success.
RAPs ensure employees are customed trained supporting long term career advancement.

Workforce Partnership serves as a registered apprenticeship intermediary in Kansas. The role includes:

Serve as an Apprenticeship Sponsor
Assist employer in finding established RAPs or developing a RAP
Support in finding candidates including connecting to school district if high school RAP is needed
Find or provide funding for employers to execute the apprenticeship program

Reimbursement of up to $4,000 per apprentice for related technical instruction costs.
Up to 50% wage reimbursement for eligible apprentices under an On-the-Job Training (OJT) contract
- Typically covers the first 16 weeks
The state of Kansas has a tax credit for businesses for $2,500 per apprentice, per year for up to 20 apprentices each year.
- This application goes through the state, but we can connect businesses to this resource at the Office of Apprenticeship.