The Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has cut the ribbon on its Skilled Trade Apprenticeship Facility, as part of its collaboration with the Bergen County Technical Schools. As part of this collaboration, qualified students from BCTS will become apprentices to licensed plumbers, HVAC technicians, and electricians at the Medical Center, with three students already holding apprenticeships at the hospital.
“Throughout my tenure as County Executive, my administration has consistently championed initiatives that prioritize efficiency and collaboration,” said James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive. “Today, we celebrate yet another forward-thinking partnership between two jewels in the crown of Bergen County, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and Bergen County Technical Schools. This new apprenticeship program will not only equip students with valuable skills but also strengthens our community by increasing skilled laborers in critical trades, ultimately building a brighter future for our next generation.”
This announcement comes as part of a larger push to increase the number of apprenticeships in New Jersey, which has nearly doubled the number of registered programs, according to Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Such apprenticeships strengthen the talent pipeline of New Jersey labor, providing laborers with high-paying, in-demand jobs and employers with steady sources of the skilled labor that they require.
“This apprenticeship program benefits the students, the Medical Center, and the community as a whole by increasing the number of those trained in skilled labor,” said Deborah Visconi, President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “This program aligns with the overall mission and vision of the Medical Center which is to demonstrate national leadership on key issues which includes workforce development not only for medical and allied health positions but in every department.”