New Culinary Apprenticeship Program Set to Kick Off in Northern Michigan

A first of its kind apprenticeship program in northern Michigan will give future culinary workers the opportunity to build their skills. The new culinary apprenticeship program is being offered at Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, and the Inn at Bay Harbor with assistance from Northwest Michigan Works! To prepare for the new apprenticeship program, Northwest Michigan Works! held a mentor orientation session for key Boyne staff members who will be working with the new apprentices. The orientation provided the mentors with an overview of apprenticeships, information about what it means to be a mentor, and a review of the apprenticeship training plan.

The two-year Culinary Apprenticeship program at Boyne will include 4000 hours of on-the-job training and over 500 hours of online and classroom instruction. Students will be employed full-time at the resorts during the training and will learn from mentor chefs. When they complete the program, apprentices will earn a culinary credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and culinary certifications from the American Culinary Federation and North Central Michigan College.

The first cohort of ten students is scheduled to begin on-the-job training in December and classroom instruction in January. The apprenticeship program being developed at the resorts in northern Michigan could eventually be used at other Boyne USA properties around the country.

Registered apprenticeships are developed through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and are a proven training method for employers to build a talent pipeline of highly-skilled, educated employees. Registered apprenticeships are offered in over 1300 occupations and can be designed for any size or type of business. Northwest Michigan Works! provides technical assistance and administrative support for Registered Apprenticeships, including development and implementation guidance.