On Wednesday, EB welcomed members of the Southeastern CT state delegation for a business update and facility tour. Kevin Graney greeted the legislators and provided an overview of EB’s business and major initiatives. HR VP Andrew Bond then led a discussion on workforce development and hiring.
The increase to two Virginia class submarines coupled with the Columbia program provides EB with an opportunity for unprecedented growth. The HR team is working to attract and retain a capable and diverse workforce to meet our increased hiring demand.
The Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, which started in 2016 with federal funding, has been extremely successful in providing entry- level trade training. Our local legislators have championed this program and provided state funding to maintain and expand this pipeline to meet future demand. To highlight this partnership with pipeline programs, Mark Hill from the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) joined Bond to provide an overview of EB’s partnership with EWIB.
The HR team has initiated several programs to introduce potential employees to jobs in the trades. One example is the Boat for Women Program. The goal of this program is to reduce perceived barriers and expose women with hands-on training to jobs in the trades. Because of its success, the program is now being expanded to other groups including veterans and Spanish speakers.
The legislators were very engaged and thoughtful in the discussions, and will take some of the insights from this discussion into the upcoming 2022 legislative session. EB will continue to look for ways to work with our state partners to support our growth in areas such as training, housing, transportation, childcare and services for jobseekers while enrolled in training programs.
