The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce met recently to discuss workforce training and education. Council Chair Roman Medina (SVP/CISO - Jefferson Bank) welcomed the group and introduced the hosts of the meeting, the team at the San Antonio Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Medina then welcomed Ben Peavy (Accenture Federal Services) who provided the Council with a detailed description of how Accenture has implemented a successful apprenticeship program in San Antonio.
Over the last several years, especially since COVID-19, the federal government has encouraged apprenticeships to help build and meet workforce demand. Monies from the Department of Labor and others have been pushed to communities to help build registered apprenticeship programs, formal structures where an employer can bring in workers to learn and become solid candidates for employment. The model, however, has been difficult to implement because of bureaucratic requirements and a reluctance to stray too far from the familiar manufacturing industry. Some have offered to share successful applications of apprenticeship programs in the IT and cybersecurity industry but have had poor outcomes.
Accenture Federal Services, however, has found a way to bring potential candidates into the company using a much less formal program that fits their recruitment and hiring cycle. Ben Peavy shared his experience with the Council, generating several great discussions on how the local Accenture team made it happen. Several Council members are discussing with Ben more details so they can consider how they, too, could implement a similar program.