Project Details

Agency Name: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of Apprenticeship (OA)

Agency Type: Federal

Services: Technical Assistance, Strategic Communications

Client Goals

In September 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) selected Safal Partners as a national industry intermediary to launch, promote, and expand Registered Apprenticeship (RA) in cybersecurity and related tech occupations nationwide. Through the industry intermediary contract (IIC) Safal provides direct service delivery as well as technical assistance to employers, industry trade associations, educational partners, and workforce system stakeholders on all aspects of sustainable registered apprenticeship program development and expansion. Over the life of the contract, IICs are expected to develop 2 new registered apprenticeship programs annually, support registration of on average 750 new apprentices annually with a minimum of 50 percent coming from targeted and historically underserved populations.

Safal Approach

To accelerate employer adoption of apprenticeship, Safal became an approved national apprenticeship program sponsor for multiple cyber and tech occupation. Safal also developed its own LMS to provide on-demand, easily accessible related instruction on technical and core employability skills for partners. Safal created strategic partnerships to meet IIC goals including with Cybrary, the leading online training provider in cybersecurity, to provide industry-built, credential-aligned online training to program sponsor partners at no cost for their apprentices’ required related instruction, and the Cyber Future Foundation (CFF) to provide industry and occupational expertise as well as supportive mentoring for apprentices by CFF members.

Safal provides extensive technical assistance and ongoing program support to employers, workforce boards, minority serving institutions, state and local agencies, and educational institutions including colleges, high schools, and career and technical education (CTE) centers. TA is delivered through quarterly cohort meetings, monthly virtual office hours and coaching sessions, and customized program support.

In the first 15 months of its contract, Safal’s work resulted in development of 23 new or expanded registered apprenticeship programs, including 4 new national programs, sponsored by employers, colleges, CTE programs and training intermediaries. Safal also registered and supported over 600 new apprentices through apprenticeship partners, 71 percent of whom come from diverse backgrounds including minorities, women, and Veterans.