A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management at the Savannah River Site (SRS) launched a new apprenticeship program this month focused on potential project controls, a skill in high demand.

This WesWorks apprentice program is an initiative of SRS liquid waste contractor Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC). WesWorks, a woman-owned small business and protégé of SRMC, is an integrated subcontractor that manages project controls scope.

Project control employees at SRMC typically perform critical work that includes examining the scope of the project, assessing risk, creating baseline schedules and forecasts, and determining budget and schedule, among other tasks. The apprenticeship is designed to create the opportunity for an introduction to project controls and estimating principles with the opportunity to gain knowledge through mentorship with experienced employees.

The first class of six students began Aug.12. They’re expected to graduate in May 2025.

The apprenticeship program, approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and Apprenticeship Carolina, allows participants to be paid to work in SRMC’s project controls area while also learning the fundamentals of the tasks at Aiken Technical College (Aiken Tech). The apprentices are working in a half-dozen major facilities that SRMC operates.

SRMC approached Aiken Tech about creating such a program because of the difficulty in finding certified project control employees, according to SRMC President and Program Manager Dave Olson.

“At SRS, we have many skills and disciplines needed to conduct all the work that has to be accomplished for DOE,” Olson said. “However, the specialized skills of project controls personnel are among the most difficult to find across the country. There is an incredibly high need, and the supply is extremely limited. I commend WesWorks for stepping up to help create a new pipeline of these professionals.”

Aiken Tech President Forest Mahan said his college has a flexible, nimble attitude toward assisting business and industry with educating a future workforce.

“Our power as a technical college lies in our ability to keep pace with changing industries and demands over time and provide the education needed,” Mahan said. “This apprenticeship not only demonstrates we can quickly meet a need, but we are providing the fundamentals needed to help local citizens get good-paying, lasting jobs.”

SRMC comprises parent company BWX Technologies, Inc. with partners Amentum and Fluor. Its team brings the capabilities necessary to accelerate cleanup at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site through safe nuclear operations, optimized and integrated mission execution, and strong corporate governance.