Hanover, N.H.-based technology firm to lose work force as they graduate
SPRINGFIELD -- A Hanover, N.H.-based technology company will
fill a sizable gap in its work force this week after the latest
batch of recruits graduate from a machinist apprenticeship
program today in Springfield.
The 14 people who have survived the intense nine-week program
at the Howard Dean Education Center will go immediately to
work for Hywork force as they graduate Hypertherm Inc. to
fill over half of the approximately 25 positions the company
previously has been unable to fill.
Foster Whitworth of Hypertherm said getting involved with
the CNC Machinist Program is one strategy the company is using
to recruit a talented work force, despite negative perceptions
about the stability of manufacturing in the area.
"Manufacturing in the Upper Valley, for the past 25
years, has had a black eye because of globalization...so the
second generation candidates don't want to go into it,"
Whitworth said. "We've got to rejuvenate and represent
the industry to them for the 21st century."
Hypertherm Inc., which makes plasma and laser technology
used to cut metal, offered to fund part of each student's
$8,900 tuition and set aside jobs for them after they graduated.
It was the first time in the program's short history that
one company planned to hire all the applicants.
The CNC Machinist Information Technology Apprenticeship Readiness
Program is a collaboration between the Vermont Department
of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor and
the nonprofit Vermont HITEC.
For virtually no financial cost to the applicant, apprentices
are trained on CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machining and
guaranteed employment at a loc | 