Sometimes the juggling act is overwhelming. You are trying to go back to school to take the next step in your career. But it’s not easy. You may be working a job… or two. You may have people to take care of at home. The days…
The General Assembly has been in session since early January, and we’re at the point where bills from one chamber cross over to the other. By this time, some bills have died on the vine, while others have moved over for further discussion and votes. If…
If you’re looking for a training program with a job placement rate over 90% in a growing industry nestled in the heart of Hampton Roads, you’ve come to the right place. The Virginia Ship Repair Association’s Marine Trade Training (MTT) program trains thousands of Virginians for…
When Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) received part of a $5 million grant to help train pharmaceutical workers in the region for a company struggling to access talent, other local employers began to take note. BRCC was attracting a pool of talented students, and Merck, the…
Getting a workforce credential at your local community college is a valuable way to get a leg up in your current career – or start a new career altogether. Because the trainings take weeks, not years, to complete, buckling down and studying hard will help you…
As we celebrate the hard work and dedication of pharmacists across the country, today also serves as a reminder to express gratitude for the many other pharmacy-related workers who help patients access prescriptions and medications around the clock. A pharmacy technician is a key supportive role…
You can’t turn on the news nowadays without hearing about “workforce development” or some other employee shortage. Now that we’re in a new year and the Virginia General Assembly session is about to kick into gear, the conversation in Virginia is only going to get hotter….
With record-low unemployment, Virginia has an enormous need for workers to fill an estimated 300,000 open jobs, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has asked business and education leaders for transformational ideas that will help fill these jobs quickly. It’s a daunting task. Not only is…
For the first few years of FastForward, we wanted to make the case for exploring workforce training offerings by connecting individuals with a career coach. In doing so, students discovered which career pathway was right for them. But over time, we started to see more and…
FastForward programs across Virginia’s 23 community colleges offer funding to help students complete short-term workforce training in high-demand industries. The qualifying industries range widely but all have one thing in common: the programs are based on the needs of local employers, which means students are in…