Washington, DC – November 18, 2024 – Apprenticeship is fueling career and leadership development across the restaurant workforce, teaching the skills and strategic business thinking needed to climb the restaurant career ladder. During National Apprenticeship Week, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is celebrating the industry’s up-and-coming leaders and reinforcing its investment in the restaurant workforce through the creation of two new apprenticeship career tracks and a partnership to build apprenticeship pathways at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across four states.

As an industry where 9 in 10 managers and 8 in 10 owners started their professional journeys in entry-level positions, the restaurant sector is uniquely positioned to maximize apprenticeship as a tool to upskill workers who want to grow and advance in career-focused roles, including management – and beyond. The NRAEF has added assistant restaurant manager and assistant kitchen manager career tracks to its existing apprenticeship portfolio, comprised of restaurant manager, kitchen manager, and line cook career tracks.

Building on this work, it is also launching a new partnership with the Delaware Restaurant Association; the Restaurant Association of Maryland; the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association; and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association to establish apprenticeship at their respective HBCUs in support of restaurant management career pathways through a Department of Labor Critical Sector Job Quality Grant.

“As a dynamic and growing industry with incredible runway for professional growth, restaurants are well suited to the kinds of hands-on training and mentorship that apprenticeship prioritizes,” said Rob Gifford, president of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of the industry’s groundbreaking work to cultivate a workforce that’s equipped to lead.”

The result of a multi-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor that kicked off in 2016, the NRAEF’s apprenticeship initiatives work with individual restaurant operators across the country to build customized programs that draw on an establishment’s unique culture, business style, and goals. While apprentices hone skills specific to their position, they also gain an understanding of how a restaurant business operates and prepare for advancement opportunities. Apprenticeship credentials are backed by the U.S. Department of Labor and transferable to other restaurant and hospitality workplaces.

Now in its tenth year, National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor. Throughout the week, industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders will host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for building the economy, advancing racial and gender equity, and supporting underserved communities.

A designated Apprenticeship Ambassador by the U.S. Department of Labor, the NRAEF is creating industry apprenticeship opportunities through its Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC), which houses its Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Program (HSRA), and Veteran Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform Act (VALOR) programs. For more on the NRAEF’s apprenticeship programs, visit ChooseRestaurants.org/RHLC.

About The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) 

As the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF’s charitable mission includes enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org. 

CONTACT:

Hannah Oliver
holiver@nraef.org