As technological advancements and mechanization reshape the manufacturing industry and required skill sets evolve, Local 825 focuses on providing the appropriate training to individuals so they remain relevant, employable, and sought after in the advanced manufacturing sector. Local 825 identified the need for a degree apprenticeship five years ago and has been striving toward accomplishing this goal ever since.

To help Local 825 improve its capacity to train workers and develop a sustainable pipeline for members of the manufacturing industry, The Aubrey Group was retained in 2025 to assist the Local with grant strategy, research, planning, application, and implementation. Notably, in 2021, The Aubrey Group assisted Local 825 in the licensure and accreditation process to allow the Local to distribute official higher education degrees to members completing coursework. Through multiple meetings with Local 825’s Training Director, The Aubrey Group helped the Local develop a thorough, helpful training curriculum for future members and compile an internal database of needed accreditation documentation, such as Local 825’s standards of apprenticeship, physical resources plan, and standards of apprenticeship. The result of this collaboration was official accreditation from the state of New Jersey, which formally allows the Local to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Studies (AAS-OS) to members who complete the Local’s training program.

After assisting Local 825 with the accreditation process, The Aubrey Group was retained to assist with grant strategy, research, planning, application, and implementation. Most notably, The Aubrey Group secured funding from two large-scale grant programs offered by the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL). These are the NJDOL’s Growing Apprenticeships in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) program, which was won in December 2022, and the NJDOL’s Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) program, which was won in February 2023.

The purpose of the GAINS program is to expand and develop approved Registered Apprenticeship programs that create pathways for students to gainful employment and advanced credentials. To prepare a competitive application, The Aubrey Group worked with the Local to develop a program that would reimburse apprentice training costs for fifty apprentices and cover additional services that are necessary for completing their apprenticeship program, such as transportation and childcare. The purpose of the PACE program is to prepare young students to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship programs. The Aubrey Group assisted Local 825 in developing a pilot program that provides introductory apprenticeship coursework to high school students. Upon graduation, these students will have achieved the applicable skills required to transition directly into a registered apprenticeship. Through the success of both of these applications, Local 825 received over $260,000 in funding from the NJDOL, enhancing its ability to provide invaluable training and upskilling services to its members.

About the Client: The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 represents over 8,000 heavy equipment operators, surveyors, and mechanics across the state of New Jersey and five lower counties of New York. Local 825 is an innovative and forward-thinking organization well-known throughout the construction industry for its training and education programs. The Local’s Training Center in Dayton, NJ, is working toward becoming a technical college and would be the first of its kind in the country. The program is accredited by the Council for Occupational Education and licensed by the State of New Jersey to award degrees.

Photo Credit: IUOE Local 825 Website