A new program offered by the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will make it easier for manufacturing companies to offer high quality internships to local high school students. This is promising news, because today’s students are tomorrow’s future.
One of the biggest impediments to increasing the manufacturing labor pool is a prevailing misconception about what careers in manufacturing are really like. No one is in a better position to dispel the myths and “present the real picture” than manufacturers themselves.
OH!Manufacturing continues to encourage manufacturers to step up and take part in events and initiatives that will educate and inform young people, their parents and their teachers about the benefits our industry has to offer.
In the past, we’ve presented a number of ways manufacturers can get engaged:
- Conduct one-on-one career mentoring
- Participate in career days at local schools
- Coordinate a panel of experts to speak with students and parents about career options in your industry
- Provide job shadow opportunities for students
- Offer student internship opportunities
- Host student field trips
One thing we haven’t covered is internships. Internships are a terrific way to give youth hands on industry experience, while getting entry-level labor for a reasonable price. Now, thanks to a new program sponsored by the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, there is money on the table to help you pay their wages.
The Ohio MEP, through its affiliates like OH!Manufacturing, will partner with manufacturers and secondary career technical education centers to expand the impact of internships/work-based learning (WBL) programs for up to 60 students throughout Ohio.
The students’ internship experiences will closely relate to their program of study. Furthermore, Ohio MEP will provide 50% of the student’s wages and benefits up to $1,500. This financial assistance for manufacturers means offering internships continues to make sense…while costing less.
Reach out to OH!Manufacturing today to identify what kind of direct exposure and experience you can offer young students, and how with Ohio MEP’s help you can offer these great chances more cost effectively.
