The idea is as straightforward as it is ambitious: Create 400 paid, work-based learning opportunities for Spartanburg County high school students to gain real-world experience working for some of the community’s leading employers.
The OneSpartanburg Inc. initiative is the latest among the organization’s multifaceted efforts to grow the talent pool county employers need to remain successful.
The initiative officially kicked off Oct. 30 with a group of local business, governmental, and nonprofit leaders signing an internship pledge to create the positions.
Among the organizations committing to the initiative are:
- Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
- Spartanburg Academic Movement
- City of Spartanburg
- Spartanburg County
- Kids Upstate
- Spartanburg County school districts
National polling among employers suggests that internships and the experience they provide are among the leading considerations employers look at in hiring, according to Taylor Dement, OneSpartanburg’s director of talent solutions.
Not only does an internship provide company-specific work experience, but it tends to be a good indicator an employee with an internship in his or her background is more likely to stay in a job longer, Dement said.
The hope is this initiative will create momentum for other businesses to create work-based learning opportunities within their own organization, according to Ron Garner, OneSpartanburg’s chief talent officer.
“I just want to extend a challenge to every business and industry in Spartanburg – join us. Together we can strengthen Spartanburg’s talent ecosystem and continue to better attract and retain talented individuals to our community,” Garner said.
