Youth Engagement

Investing in Future Leaders

There are thousands of impressionable, young minds enrolled in surrounding schools that are eager to learn and engage in the business world. By involving youth in everyday business, companies can improve retention, profitability and recruitment efforts. With dozens of organizations prepared to help bridge the gap between companies and our regional schools, there are many opportunities to connect and include Savannah’s youth in a bright economic future.

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Ideas to Get Students in the Workforce Sooner

  1. Create an apprenticeship or internship program.

  2. Invite students to annual meetings or other public/private events to get exposure to the business world/culture.

  3. Offer and host field trips.

  4. Attend career fairs.

  5. Increase your outreach, marketing and visibility to the school age population.

  6. Incorporate a “take your child to work” day.

  7. Review company policies that allow a younger workforce to participate.

  8. Offer job shadow opportunities for students.

  9. Encourage staff to participate in Savannah Rotary Read-In.

  10. Contract Woodville-Tompkins Academy of Culinary Arts to do your catering.

  11. Connect with local organizations that organize student tours, internships, job shadows and opportunities for mentorship, etc. (see our list below).

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  • Recruit and screen potential employees through a short-term commitment.

  • Reduce turnover of entry-level employees through the hiring of Youth Apprenticeships.

  • Reduce the cost of hiring and training a highly technical workforce.

  • Improve the skill levels of potential employees.

  • Improve profitability and positive impact to your bottom line

  • Retain Workers.

  • Foster a diverse and inclusive culture.

  • Reduce worker compensation costs.

  • Develop standards for educational curriculum to meet company needs.

  • 94% of apprentices continue employment after completing an apprenticeship.

  • An analysis from Switzerland shows employers fully recoup their investment in apprentices through productivity gains by the third year of the program.

  • Employers see a return on investment of roughly $1.47 for every $1 invested in an apprenticeship.

  • Studies show the average retention for apprentices completing programs is 91%.

Additional Resources