TranZed gets state innovation grant for tech apprenticeships

An org that moved into Baltimore last year and is looking to provide tech apprenticeships was among the first recipients of a new grant program from the state.
TranZed Apprenticeship Services received a pair of grants through the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund. Funded by the federal government, the grants were awarded to four orgs by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
TranZed, which was founded in the United Kingdom, opened its first U.S. operation in Baltimore last year. The organization helps link workers with jobs where they can receive training in digital media, IT and cybersecurity with a mix of on-the-job training and coursework.
One grant for $50,000 will be used to ramp up operations, said Kimberly Neal, president of TranZed Apprenticeship Ventures. Specifically, they are looking to engage with more employers who want to take on apprentices.
A second grant for $15,000 will help develop a pre-apprenticeship program to help potential apprentices with interview and presentation skills, Neal said.
Neal said the grants are “incredibly helpful and timely,” as the organization currently has 68 people who are seeking apprenticeships.
Separate grants were awarded to organizations to provide training in installation of flooring and solar panels, manufacturing and tree care.
“There are many possibilities for creating opportunities to assist in the development of programs in the traditional industries, such as construction, but also the expansion into non-traditional industries, such as information technology and manufacturing,” Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz said in a statement. “The goal is to be able to provide businesses with greater opportunities for the development of a workforce of the future that works for them.”