Business / Industry Services
Customized Training Program
Surry Community College supports the economic development efforts of the state of North Carolina by locally administering the Customized Training Program.
This program provides educational and training opportunities for eligible businesses and industries.
The Customized Training Program consists of the following types of training and funding streams:
- Job Growth - focusing on new companies wishing to locate in the Surry Community College service area, or companies currently in our area who wish to expand their operations. For new companies, the Job Growth program may include Pre-Employment Assessment to ensure qualified workers.
- Productivity Enhancement - focusing on training incumbent workers.
- Technology Investment - augments the Job Growth and Productivity Enhancement programs where needs may be outside of their respective guidelines.
Additionally, opportunities are available for Continuous Improvement training.
| For more information, contact |
Sam Brim
Director, Business & Industry Services
SCC - Elkin Center
1461 N. Bridge St., Elkin NC 28621
(336) 386-3684
brims@surry.edu
|
Denise Brown
Business & Industry Specialist
SCC - Elkin Center
1461 N Bridge St., Elkin NC 28621
(336) 386-3602
browndw@surry.edu
|
Job Growth Training
(New & Expanding Industry)
Who's eligible for this workplace training service?
You are...if your company creates at least 12 new production jobs in Surry or Yadkin county. Best of all, you can take advantage of this award-winning program at no charge.
Who pays for the training?
The state of North Carolina finances this program completely. There are no federal funds involved. The North Carolina legislature appropriates money directly to the Department of Community Colleges for the exclusive purpose of providing this innovative training benefit to new and expanding companies.
Who determines the content of the training program?
We do--together. The final design is the result of a partnership between you and Surry Community College. Our industrial training specialists will visit one of your existing operations to study the job skills, work schedules, production processes, and any other pertinent variables. Then, in consultation with your production and training personnel, we'll prepare a proposal based on your specific training needs.
What kinds of jobs can this program address?
The versatility of our workplace training service is virtually unlimited. Flexible and custom-designed, it can accommodate almost any job found in a manufacturing or service company. If a job can be defined and arranged into a logical learning sequence, we can train someone to do it.
How long does the training program last?
As long as it needs to. There are no arbitrary limits governing the length of a single course or the duration of an entire project. Length of courses is determined by the nature of the jobs and the skills they require. The duration of the project is determined primarily by your workforce size and your hiring schedule.
Who furnishes the instructors?
Typically, companies prefer to use some of their own experienced personnel as instructors. In other cases, the Surry Community College may assign some of its regular faculty or recruit special instructors.
Do instructors receive any special training?
Because we believe instructors are the single most critical element in the training process, each prospective instructor is encouraged to participate in an instructor development workshop. These seminars usually last two to five days and are conducted at no cost to you by our staff development specialists.
Must trainees be employed by the participating company while in training?
Not necessarily. Our training service offers a variety of employment/enrollment options not found in many other states. Employees can be trained before they're hired (pre-employment training) or after they're hired (post-employment training). Usually, programs are designed to include both options. This versatility allows us to respond to almost any workplace situation. Our expert staff will help you select the approach that best suits your needs.
How are trainees recruited and selected?
North Carolina's workplace training service makes a conscious effort not to infringe on your right of selection. But to help you find the best possible employees, our Employee Security Commission will recruit, screen and refer to you those applicants who meet your criteria. Pre-Employment Assessment can also be an effective selection tool.
What is Pre-Employment Assessment?
For new companies, this is a customized assessment process that enables you to choose the right employees for your operation. After the initial screening of candidates, this assessment takes on a “workshop” feel where prospective employees are introduced to your company, culture, and expectations. In addition, candidates are observed in team building exercises, skills tests, and communication skills situations, and may also be tested or certified in our Career Readiness program.
Are trainees paid during the training period?
The answer to this depends on whether you use pre-employment or post-employment training. During pre-employment classes, trainees are not paid. But by definition, post-employment classes are conducted after the trainees are hired and on your payroll. So, in neither case do we pay trainee wages.
Does the state provide any equipment?
Yes. We can provide standard equipment normally associated with vocational and technical training (lathes, welding machines, measuring instruments, computers, etc.). However, you are expected to furnish any equipment specialized to your particular products or processes.
Does the state provide any training aids, such as videos and manuals?
We certainly do. Our Media Development Office uses an extensive network of award-winning communications professionals to write and produce video programs and training manuals. Working closely with you, our specialists tailor materials to support your training goals. Since you will have sole ownership and control of these materials, you may be asked to share the costs.
Is there a provision for classroom materials?
All classroom materials such as texts, workbooks, and some computer-based packages are provided by the state. Additionally, we may negotiate a reimbursement of up to 50% of non-salvageable production materials used in the training effort.
How long may a company qualify for this assistance?
Our workplace training service was developed to encourage companies to create more jobs for North Carolinians. So, training will continue as long as you create new jobs. Any expansion that produces additional jobs will reactivate our training service, whether it's another shift, an enlarged plant or a new product line. We're here to help you grow.
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Productivity Enhancement Training
(Incumbent Workforces)
Productivity Enhancement Training is especially designed to respond directly to the needs of industry. Courses are developed through assessment of training needs and cooperative planning between Surry Community College and manufacturing industries. Customized training may be developed for organizations who need to upgrade worker’s skills because of technological or process advances.
How does Productivity Enhancement work?
You identify a training need. Surry Community College does a needs assessment. Together, we decide the kind and number of classes needed to meet your training goals. Surry Community College will staff the classes with expert instructors.
What jobs qualify for Productivity Enhancement training?
Productivity Enhancement focuses on update skills as technology changes. Skilled and semi-skilled job training includes: material handlers, assembly technicians, welders, machinists, maintenance mechanics, metal-workers, production line workers, and woodworking machine operators and many others.
What kind of courses can Productivity Enhancement offer?
We can customize courses to meet your company's operations. Such courses as: machine fixer training, statistical process control, welding, industrial maintenance and troubleshooting, blueprint reading, team performance, hydraulics and pneumatics, industrial sewing machine repair, and basic electronics.
Where can the training be offered?
We can offer the training on your site or on the campus of Surry Community College (including our satellite centers).
What about instructors, times, and dates?
We provide qualified instructors and conduct classes at times and dates convenient to you and your employees.
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Technology Investment Training
This segment of the Customized Training Program is designed to augment the other segments, Job Growth (for new and expanding industry needs) and Productivity Enhancement (for incumbent workforces), where needs may be outside of the guidelines for those respective purposes. This segment of the program provides flexibility to ensure that your needs are met to the best ability of the state.
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Continuous Improvement Training
As you go through daily operations, it is important to continually improve and enhance the basic skills of your workforce. Surry Community College helps this process by offering various types of continuous improvement, “soft skills” training such as: fundamental skills of managing people, fundamental skills of communicating with people, fundamental skills of leadership, delegating responsibility, managing conflict, hiring and firing employees, assessing performance, coaching for improvement, and using positive discipline. Also, we have extensive resources for providing Lean/Six Sigma process improvement.
In addition, continuous improvement – and meeting regulatory mandates – may be achieved through various types of safety courses such as first aid/CPR, fire extinguisher use and safety, lock in/tag out, confined space, forklift operation, arc flash safety, etc. Surry Community College can provide qualified and certified instructors for practically any need.
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