Nestlé Launches Career Acceleration Program in U.S.

Nestlé announces the launch of Project Opportunity, a new career acceleration initiative in the U.S. to help people of all ages gain work experience and strengthen their professional development skills in food and beverage manufacturing.

As part of Nestlé’s broader global initiative to address the global unemployment crisis, the company has pledged to expand its apprenticeship program to 31 Nestlé factories in the U.S., hire 1000 paid interns and trainees by 2017, and reach 300,000 people with “readiness for work” activities annually.
 
Project Opportunity will expand the number of Nestlé apprenticeships from 20 to 136 across its U.S. operations by 2017, offering an up to three-year program that combines on-the-job and coursework-based training to develop critical manufacturing job skills. This year, Project Opportunity's apprenticeship program will launch for electrical and controls technicians, and in 2016, Nestlé will begin the Maintenance Mechanic apprenticeship program.

“We’re thrilled to be launching Project Opportunity to increase the number of skilled workers entering careers in U.S. manufacturing,” said Paul Grimwood, chairman and CEO Nestlé USA. “We’re committed to providing job and training opportunities for people of all ages through a range of initiatives. Starting with apprenticeships, our goal is to bridge the worlds of education and work and set the foundation for a successful career with Nestlé and beyond.”

Project Opportunity was announced in conjunction with Swiss vice president Johann Schneider Amman’s signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent with the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce and Education in Washington, D.C. The Declaration includes U.S.-Swiss cooperation, promoting vocational and professional education and training, career and technical education, and apprenticeships. The pledge builds off the Obama administration’s emphasis on apprenticeship training, including its plans to double the number of apprentices within the next five years through a $100 million program.

"Apprenticeships are a win-win for workers and employers alike and a great way to help young people punch their ticket to the middle class," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Companies like Nestlé that invest in apprenticeships are not only expanding opportunities for their workers, they are helping to develop a workforce able to compete in the 21st century global economy."

While popular in Europe, companies with a U.S. presence have traditionally offered a relatively low number of apprenticeship programs, leaving a critical skills gap in key industries such as manufacturing. Beyond manufacturing, employers are increasingly finding that applicants lack the necessary skills for the positions they need to fill. This “skills gap” is only expected to grow over time if left unaddressed.

Project Opportunity is part of Nestlé’s broader efforts to develop talent for the company and help tackle the global unemployment crisis. Nestlé recently joined the Global Apprenticeships Network (GAN), a coalition of companies, employers’ federations and associations that addresses the global unemployment crisis and the need for business to ensure skills for the future.

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