Biden-Harris Administration Officials Meet with CEOs to Discuss Expansion of Apprenticeships

Accenture, Aon and Zurich Celebrate 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week 

CHICAGO, Nov. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accenture, a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security, Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, and Zurich North America, a leading multi-line insurance provider, are kicking off a weeklong celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) in the U.S.

Today's event is hosted by the Chicago Apprentice Network in collaboration with Business Roundtable. It features First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Additionally, there will be a roundtable on scaling and growing apprenticeships, which will include Secretary Walsh, White House officials and executives from JPMorgan Chase & Co., McDonald's, United Airlines, Walgreens Boots Alliance and others. They will address the importance of apprenticeships and ways to continue to scale the apprenticeship model among more employers, giving even more people greater access to sustainable careers with paid training to be successful. An apprentice-moderated discussion and networking event will follow the roundtable.  

Apprenticeships are key to expanding the talent pipeline and helping companies create more inclusive workforces that embrace talented individuals who may not have earned four-year college degrees. Contributing to national efforts, the Chicago Apprentice Network, founded in 2017 by Accenture, Aon and Zurich North America, has grown to include more than 80 employers that have brought on nearly 1,500 apprentices in industries including finance, technology, consulting, retail and manufacturing. In 2022, Accenture, Aon and Zurich North America were named Apprenticeship Ambassadors by the Biden Administration's Department of Labor.

"A firm's talent is its most valuable asset. To build a truly resilient workforce, firms can benefit by expanding their candidate pools and opening the doors to a broader, more diverse group of candidates," said Greg Case, chief executive officer, Aon. "Apprenticeships allow talented individuals to earn as they learn and build a foundation for future success. We have seen firsthand how Aon's Apprenticeship Program has allowed us to build a resilient and diverse workforce and we encourage other organizations to join our network or start their own programs to expand these tremendous opportunities." 

In November 2020, Aon announced the expansion of its Apprenticeship program with an investment of $30 million and the formation of Apprentice Networks in six new cities across the U.S. Working with Accenture, Zurich and other employers, Apprentice Networks have launched in Houston, Minnesota, New York, Northern California, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Detroit.

Zurich North America hired its first apprentices in 2016 at its Schaumburg, Illinois, headquarters and expanded the program to New York in 2020 and to Atlanta and select agricultural states in 2021. In 2022 Zurich hired apprentices in 16 states coast to coast and created a bachelor's degree pathway.

"When Zurich North America hired our first apprentices in 2016, apprenticeships in the U.S. were limited mainly to manufacturing and the trades," said Zurich North America Chief Executive Officer Kristof Terryn. "While those traditional opportunities remain, Zurich, Accenture, Aon and many other businesses have pushed out those guardrails and proven that apprenticeships work across a wide range of corporate settings and roles. In all cycles, in every industry, all of us need talent with innovative ideas and fresh perspectives, and our talent pools want and deserve opportunities to develop and reach their potential. Apprenticeship delivers."

Since launching its national apprenticeship program in the U.S. in 2016, Accenture has onboarded over 2,000 apprentices in roles including cybersecurity, data engineering, cloud and platform engineering and has expanded its apprenticeship hiring goal to make up 20 percent of its U.S. entry-level roles.

"Through our apprenticeship program, we continue welcoming many remarkable individuals to Accenture and helping expand diversity in our industry," said Jimmy Etheredge, Accenture's chief executive officer of North America.  "We are giving more people pathways to sustainable careers while gaining access to motivated new talent and the diversity we need to drive innovation. It's a win-win and I'm gratified to see the changes we can make happen working together in our communities to expand the model to other companies."

About National Apprenticeship Week 
National Apprenticeship Week, which runs Nov. 14 - 20, 2022, is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeships for rebuilding our economy, advancing racial and gender equity and supporting underserved communities. NAW in the U.S. is an opportunity to highlight how Registered Apprenticeships are a proven and industry-driven training model.

Throughout the week, Apprentice Networks will host daily events throughout the country. 

Monday, Nov. 14: Chicago and South Bloomington, Minnesota
Tuesday, Nov. 15: Washington, D.C.  
Wednesday, Nov. 16: New York City 
Thursday, Nov. 17: Philadelphia 
Friday, Nov. 18: Houston and San Francisco

Watch the Chicago Apprentice Network event live here.

About Accenture 
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services, and Accenture Song — all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 721,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. 

About Aon 
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Our colleagues provide our clients in over 120 countries with advice and solutions that give them the clarity and confidence to make better decisions to protect and grow their business.  

Follow Aon on LinkedIn and Twitter. Stay up-to-date by visiting the Aon Newsroom and sign up for News Alerts here. 

About Zurich North America 
Zurich North America is one of the largest providers of insurance solutions and services to businesses and individuals. Our customers represent industries ranging from agriculture to technology. Zurich North America is part of Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich), a leading multi-line insurer serving people and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Founded 150 years ago, Zurich is transforming insurance. In addition to providing insurance protection, Zurich is increasingly offering prevention services such as those that promote wellbeing and enhance climate resilience. Reflecting its purpose "to create a brighter future together," Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. It is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and is one of the world's most sustainable insurers, as shown by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. In 2020, Zurich launched the Zurich Forest project to support reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil. The Group has about 56,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at www.zurich.com and www.zurichna.com. 