Workforce Development Month in September recognizes efforts to strengthen our economy and build pipelines to good jobs—helping individuals, employers and communities thrive.
After seven years as a chef, Duncan Fletcher was ready to try something different. But with an associate degree in culinary arts from Gallatin College Montana State University, he needed a pathway to retrain in a new field and launch his new career as quickly as possible.
In his search for new jobs, Duncan was drawn to automotive mechanic positions. “I’m pretty mechanically inclined, and I’ve always liked working with my hands,” says Duncan, who grew up on a farm in Montana and moved to Colorado in 2022.
Hermes Worldwide, a global transportation company with a fleet of premium and luxury sedans, SUVs and coaches, had a posting for an apprentice that caught Duncan’s attention.
No Experience Needed
The automotive apprenticeship at Hermes intrigued Duncan for a lot of reasons, and the fact that no prior experience was required was a bonus. “I was fortunate to get an interview, and they told me they would train me and send me to Front Range Community College to get the automotive technology education I’d need,” he says.
“Hermes takes care of its employees and promotes from within. They made a good impression, and it all sounded great.”
Working, Earning and Learning Simultaneously
Duncan started at Hermes in July 2023 and opted to begin at FRCC in January 2024 so he could take evening classes to accommodate his work schedule. “I got a good understanding of Hermes’ business and the vehicles before I started school,” he says.
Now, Duncan works during the day and takes his FRCC classes at night. “I’m applying what I learn in the classroom at work. I’ve been impressed with FRCC so far.”
“The teachers have been awesome, and the way this apprenticeship is set up, the learning compounds itself.”
On-the-Job Training Meets College Education
Automotive Technology apprentices earn 56 credits at FRCC to complete 11 certificates in areas such as automotive service (entry-level technician and comprehensive technician), brakes, engine performance and general automotive maintenance and repair. Students can choose to take five additional general education courses to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology, which is what Duncan plans to do.
At their workplaces, apprentices work under Master Automobile Technicians, the highest level of certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). FRCC’s automotive technology program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation, which requires program instructors to hold specific ASE certifications. All FRCC instructors are ASE-certified Master Automobile Technicians.
A Workforce Pipeline
Stacy Nickels, human resources manager at Hermes Worldwide, says the company was seeking to hire a new mechanic and discovered that FRCC already partnered with many area companies in high-demand fields to train apprentices.
“Our master mechanic liked the idea of helping train the next generation of mechanics, which was crucial to the success we’ve seen so far,” Stacy says.
“Duncan gets hands-on experience and the training he needs while earning an income.”
A Game Changer for Students and Employers
Hermes hopes to continue growing its team of mechanics. Stacy adds, “We see this partnership with FRCC as a win-win.”
Duncan feels the same. “I was looking to make a career change, and this has worked out well,” he says. “The state of Colorado has done a great job promoting and investing in trades like automotive technology, where there’s demand for people to enter the field as others retire.”
As an apprentice, he got access to grants and scholarships to help pay for his schooling. Duncan received a Pell Grant, FRCC Foundation scholarships and the Sundance Scholarship for apprentices. He’s also received support from the Adams County Workforce Center to put toward education and living expenses.
Regularly Adding New Apprenticeship Opportunities
FRCC began integrating apprenticeships into the college’s offerings in 2019. That’s when a $12 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) expanded opportunities for students at FRCC (and elsewhere) to receive paid on-the-job training from local healthcare companies, as well as post-secondary education from FRCC. That grant concluded in June 2024, after helping train 439 apprentices in medical assisting, certified medication aide, sterile processing and pharmacy technology.
“Once we saw the impact that apprenticeships have on employers and students, our college leadership decided it was important to expand to other sectors and institutionalize apprenticeships as one of our career pathway options,” says Chris Heuston, FRCC’s recently retired director of apprenticeships.
Concierge Service for Colorado Employers
Chris says FRCC has taken on the role of apprenticeship sponsor to make things easier for employers. “We’ve become sort of a concierge for companies that want to build an apprenticeship program but don’t have the bandwidth to handle the administration involved in getting things going,” she says.
With Hermes Worldwide, however, the ASE Education Foundation served as the apprenticeship sponsor. “That’s an advantage for companies that wish to hire auto mechanic apprentices, and something we’re seeing more of too—professional associations that are helping their employer members by sponsoring apprenticeship programs,” Chris says. “Doing so helps companies fill the talent pipeline more easily.”
Employer interest in apprenticeships is high, and people like Duncan are happily surprised to discover the opportunity to earn while they learn.
“From a learning perspective, students get to take classes and immediately use what they learn in the real world as apprentices,” Chris says.
“Employers assign a preceptor too, so the students get mentors who guide them and answer their questions. It ends up being ideal for both the employers and the students.”
FRCC: A Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor, Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary
FRCC is both an educator sponsor that provides instruction, and a Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor, partnering with dozens of employers in many high-demand fields:
- Arborist/Tree Care
- Automotive Technology
- Financial Services
- Industrial Maintenance
- Manufacturing
- Medical Assistant
- Optics & Laser Technology
- Pharmacy Technician
- Sterile Processing
- Surgical Technology
- Coming soon: Behavioral Health, Preschool Teacher and Veterinary Technology
In 2023, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment established a State Apprenticeship Agency called Apprenticeship Colorado to oversee and register apprenticeship programs in all kinds of industries, from engineering to construction, from healthcare to the arts. Apprenticeship Colorado recognized FRCC as a Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary in July 2024.
The Stars Align
The majority of FRCC-sponsored apprenticeships offer pathways to work toward or earn a certificate or associate degree from FRCC. Duncan plans to finish his associate degree in automotive technology by early 2026.
He says the experience has been everything he hoped for and more. “I feel like the stars aligned, and I got lucky with Hermes being such a well-run business with great management,” he says.
“I’m absorbing everything I can. And I really like going to work every day.”
Learn More About Becoming an Apprentice or an Employer Partner
Students:
Interested in applying for apprenticeships and the related FRCC programs? Visit the FRCC apprenticeship website for students or contact frccapprenticeships@frontrange.edu.
Employers:
Want to create an apprenticeship program in collaboration with FRCC? Visit the FRCC apprenticeship website for employers to learn about the benefits of apprenticeships or contact Janel Highfill, associate vice president for workforce development, at (303) 404-5486.
