Nestlé, Ivy Tech Community College Celebrate First Implementation of National “Project Opportunity” Apprenticeship Program in Anderson, Indiana

To celebrate the local success of Nestlé’s Project Opportunity apprenticeship program in Anderson, Indiana, Sen. Joe Donnelly (D.-Ind.), Ivy Tech Community College President Sue Ellspermann, and Nestlé leadership today participated in a tour of Nestlé’s Anderson factory and a roundtable discussion on the impact of apprenticeships in closing the unemployment gap, building a skilled workforce, and how the successful model in Anderson can be replicated across the U.S.

This event recognized one successful year of Nestlé USA’s partnership with Ivy Tech Community College to develop an electrical and controls technical apprenticeship program designed to educate and train employees to fill future vacancies and to afford job promotion opportunities to those already employed at the Anderson factory. In early 2016, the partners followed up with another version—the Maintenance Mechanic apprenticeship program, which also currently has students enrolled at Ivy Tech, while being trained at Nestlé USA’s Anderson factory.

So far, the Anderson facility employees five apprentices and is in the process of selecting an additional three apprentices to join the program. These individuals work in mechanics and electronics and support the factory in its production of several Nestlé products including Coffee-mate, Nesquik, Carnation Instant Breakfast and Boost.

This program in Anderson is a part of Nestlé’s larger Project Opportunity program, a nationwide career acceleration program. Project Opportunity welcomes people of all ages to gain work experience and strengthen their professional skills in food and beverage manufacturing. The apprentices in Anderson are part of Nestlé’s national commitment to create 136 apprenticeships across 31 U.S. factories by 2017.

Nestlé is proud to lead a national discussion on implementing apprenticeships and to provide training and employment opportunities for the next generation of American workers.