College of the Canyons is proud to announce during National Apprenticeship Week its partnership with Advantage Media Services (AMS) Fulfillment to offer 13 apprenticeships in warehousing and shipping, the first partnership of its kind in California.

Starting January 2017, the Canyons Apprenticeship Program (CAP) will give 13 select students the opportunity to earn money while they learn.

“We are grateful to AMS Fulfillment for their commitment to provide opportunities to 13 apprentices, which is a groundbreaking achievement,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “This commitment will also enable College of the Canyons to apply for the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) Grant, which will pay for the entire costs of related instruction for all of the apprentices at AMS Fulfillment.”

Under the partnership, apprentices will be full-time employees who are expected to take COC course work that is related to their jobs.

“Apprenticeships enable students to apply the knowledge they have gained from classroom instruction to a real world experience,” said Jeffrey Forrest, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at the college. “The business community benefits by creating a pipeline of talent to meet their workforce needs. Also, when a business invests in the training of its staff, it leads to higher productivity, less turnover and lower costs.”

After the apprenticeship is complete, apprentices will receive a certificate or credential. The apprentice may also be eligible for a pay increase and/or promotion with their employer.

“We think that this program will help take introductory jobs and turn them into career opportunities in our industry,” said Ken Wiseman, CEO and managing partner of AMS Fulfillment. “Because of the program’s aspects, such as job shadowing and hand selection, we will employ individuals who see this more than just a job.”

AMS Fulfillment is the first company in the Santa Clarita Valley to partner with a community college to create an apprenticeship program. In doing so, AMS Fulfillment is the first company in California to offer an apprenticeship program specializing in warehousing and shipping and the first in the country to apply for a registered apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in the area of warehousing and shipping.

Created in 2011, Apprenticeship USA is an initiative created by the DOL to address the growing issue of an unskilled labor force by providing employers with the tools and resources to create and foster a highly skilled workforce.

The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) approves apprenticeships at the state level. The CAP will be seeking state and federal approval in 2017.

Located in Santa Clarita, AMS Fulfillment is a full-service order fulfillment company that provides third-party warehouse management, fulfillment services, and order management resources.