Enstitute, a nationally recognized apprenticeship program for 21st century careers, recently announced its expansion to Miami with the support of Knight Foundation. Below, Enstitute co-founders Shaila Ittycheria and Kane Sarhan write about the program.

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“National nonprofit Enstitute expands to Miami, aims to connect young talent to high-growth companies” — July 9, 2014 press release

You might flash back to the 1700s, imagining a young Ben Franklin working on a printing press or maybe recall something more recent such as Donald Trump saying “You’re fired” on television every week. Or maybe you think of Germany, where over 500,000 students complete apprenticeships every year across hundreds of industries. Most likely, you think of the 27,000 apprentice programs for trade jobs—carpenters, electricians and woodworkers—in the United States.  No matter what you think of, there is one thing to know: They work. On average, they have an 80 percent completion rate and a 70 percent hire rate (they actually lead to jobs). We don’t offer enough apprenticeships in the United States.  Enstitute, which operates in four cities, is aiming to change that, and Miami is our newest hub.

Enstitute is a new look at an old model. We have brought apprenticeships to the 21st century and innovation economy. We place 18- to 24-year-olds in full-time, paid apprenticeships under founders and executives at high-growth startups and social enterprises and innovative corporations in digital media and technology sectors. For our apprentices, we offer real-world experience and mentorship. For employers, we are a pipeline to undiscovered local talent and a platform to recruit and bring talent from around the nation to Miami.

Ben Darr works an Enstitute apprenticeship at Thrillist in New York.

Apprentices who work with Enstitute get more than a job. We supplement their experience with personal and professional development and deeply embed them in their local ecosystem through events, fireside chats with entrepreneurs and service learning projects. By giving our apprentices a safe place to learn and fail, we accelerate their development and make them more valuable day after day.

One of the most valuable aspects of Enstitute is the effort we put into building community. In New York, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, we are connected to the best entrepreneurs, investors, educators, innovators, activists and government officials. Miami is no exception, and we are impressed by what the city has to offer. Miami is more than a new hub for us; it is also an opportunity to expand our programming. Starting in January, we will offer apprenticeships in Miami in two new industries– hospitality and Latin American businesses. We are excited to tap into these networks and support local companies with great talent.

Enstitute will spend countless hours developing these networks to support our apprentices and the Miami ecosystem. We will also bring in national visitors to support Miami from our other hubs. Miami is our new home and we are here to make it the best it can be.

This focus on experience, education and community has led us to success. Ninety percent of our graduates receive full-time jobs after a year of our program, and ninety-one percent of our companies have signed up to take another apprentice or have referred another company to participate in our program. Our apprentices become champions and supporters for their local communities. They even go on to start their own companies, such as GreenWave, which works to restore the oceans and support ocean farming. We can’t wait to see what our apprentices will do in Miami and are excited to join in the building of an amazing ecosystem.