Business Roundtable Releases Case Study on Success of Apprenticeship Networks and Importance of Skills-Based Learning

Dec 06, 2023

Following National Apprenticeship Week, Business Roundtable released a case study on the success of its Chicago Apprentice Network (CAN), titled “Scaling and Replicating a Successful Apprentice Network Model.”

Launched in 2017, the CAN is a network of Chicago-area companies working with community organizations to support professional advancement through apprenticeships. The network’s success sparked an expansion to other regions of the country, with a newly launched Southern California region earlier this month marking the 10th apprenticeship network.

The case study highlights the original nine apprenticeship networks. It describes the benefits of these non-traditional, work-based learning programs to help match employers with local talent – particularly individuals from underrepresented groups – thereby contributing to the growth of regional economies. Additionally, the case study details how the success of apprenticeship programs is often contingent on collaboration and best practice-sharing among participating companies and organizations.

Specifically, the paper analyzes five factors for an apprenticeship network’s success, which include:

• Working with local sustainability partners to complement existing local skilling initiatives. Showing the business value of apprenticeships.
• Driving employer-to-employer dialogue.
• Engaging cross-sector organizations to connect local resources across business, talent and higher education.
• Collaborating to increase and amplify collective impact.

Read the full case study here.