One of Connecticut’s largest and most iconic employers has new manufacturing talent onboard, thanks to a Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) workforce development initiative.
CCAT provided Pratt & Whitney with several qualified candidates as a part of an Entry Level Pipeline Program in which 16 candidates were accepted and graduated in August with full-time positions as Airfoil Cell Operators/Machinists at the world’s largest jet engine company. All candidates started the process with the same criteria, little to no manufacturing experience and a high school diploma.
CCAT facilitates a pre-screening process for several manufacturers that links jobs to qualified entry-level workers, many of whom come from groups typically underrepresented in manufacturing. The process framework begins with candidate recruitment through an online application portal, administration of assessments for math, reading and mechanical aptitude, and one-on-one interviews to validate competencies and determine job readiness.
CCAT recruited, assessed, and coached job seekers for Airfoil Cell Operator positions at Pratt & Whitney’s East Hartford facility. The candidates attended a seven-week accelerated training course fully funded by Pratt & Whitney at Asnuntuck Community College.
“Congratulations to the graduates and our thanks to Pratt & Whitney for the opportunity to drive the pipeline initiative,” said Lynn Raicik, CCAT’s associate director of workforce development. “We feel this can be the start of a great program that can help fill the manufacturing talent needs of the state.”