Apprenticeship Connections

Apprenticeship Connections, Inc. (AC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, provides individuals the opportunity to be mentored one-on-one in a flexible, personalized apprenticeship. Through guidance and in-depth instruction from Mentors, Apprentices make the leap from interest to practice, idea to reality. Apprenticeship Connections hand-selects respected practitioners of diverse professions who have demonstrated their commitment to teaching their metier to enterprising individuals. Each Mentor is featured on AC’s online platform giving an insight into their specialty. Interested individuals apply online and promising applicants are invited for an interview with AC personnel. AC matches qualified applicants with Mentors best-suited to their needs. AC organizes a one-day trial date between the Mentor and the applicant before they commit to an apprenticeship together. If the trial-date is successful, the applicant pays a match fee of $500 for 200 hours of apprenticeship training that is to be completed in no more than six months. Apprentices unable to pay the match fee may apply for the Apprenticeship Connections’ Scholarship. AC conducts check-ins and provides guidance and assistance to both Mentors and Apprentices during the apprenticeship period. Upon successfully completing the apprenticeship, Apprentices receive a certificate of completion and a written evaluation from their Mentor validating their commitment to learning. Founder Anne Tilney launched Apprenticeship Connections, Inc. in February of 2014. Two months later, Apprenticeship Connections won the Tom-Tom Festival Pitch Competition receiving a grant along with a placement at the University of Virginia’s highly competitive iLab Incubator at Darden. Inaugurating with five Mentors, by the summer of 2015, Apprenticeship Connections had grown to 12 Mentors and twice as many operating apprenticeships from the previous summer.