CONVERSE, SC, June 1, 2021 – BASF is seeking applicants for a new apprenticeship program at its Converse, South Carolina facility. The program is part of the company’s North American Apprenticeship Development Program (NAADP), which aims to meet future talent needs for a skilled and diverse technician workforce with an emphasis on attracting more females to these roles. With another program offered at the company’s Seneca site, this is the second apprenticeship program BASF has launched in South Carolina.
The twelve-month apprenticeship program at the Converse site pays apprentices a full-time wage to participate in on-the-job training while earning a certificate in Process Control Technology from Spartanburg Community College. Pay begins at $16.35 per hour and increases each quarter to $18.50 per hour by the end of the year-long program. In addition to paying a competitive wage, BASF offers full medical, dental and vision benefits, paid vacation, and covers the cost of tuition, books and fees associated with the certificate program. At the end of the program, apprentices have the skills and credentials to be placed in permanent positions with salaries starting at $18.50 per hour, with annual merit increases and bonuses available. The application for the apprenticeship program will be open until June 25. To apply, visit www.basf.us/apprentice.
“BASF is a great company because it offers career progression opportunities to all its employees, so you can go anywhere you want to, whether that’s broadening your skillset, growing your management abilities or even eventually working at another one of BASF’s sites around the country or in other parts of the world. Our managers are committed to helping you reach your goals, and the apprenticeship program is a great first step to building a career you love,” said Converse Site Manager Jerome Kirkland.
The Process Control Technology certificate program at Spartanburg Community College (SCC) trains students to meet the needs of advanced manufacturing-focused work that has grown tremendously over the past decade throughout the Upstate. As part of SCC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Technologies, the program provides students extensive hands-on training in lab environments, allowing them to continuously practice concepts learned in the classroom. PCT labs feature state-of-the-art equipment and simulations built to emulate the highest production standards and best practices found in the workplace. Graduates leave SCC not only with academic credentials, but first-hand, practical experience that is critical to what they will experience on the job. In addition, PCT certificate graduates may continue their SCC education and pursue an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Process Control Technology, opening the doors to even more employment opportunities, career growth and success.
“This partnership will ensure BASF’s workforce will have the skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive market. These apprentices will be trained in subjects such as Industry 4.0 and Process Control technologies on the most advanced equipment available,” said Jay Coffer, Department Chair of Advance Manufacturing, Spartanburg Community College.
“Apprenticeships are an effective way for BASF to ‘grow their own’ highly skilled employees, and students love it because they can earn while they learn in this model that combines job-related education, on-the-job learning and a scalable wage,” said Jennifer Little, Director of Spartanburg Community College Career Services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship programs bring about many benefits, including: enhanced employee retention, a safer workplace, a stable and reliable pipeline of qualified workers and a systematic approach to training, which ensures that employees are prepared and certified to produce at the highest skill levels required.
“The ideal candidate for our apprenticeship program is one who has a passion to learn and grow, with the motivation, dedication and drive to succeed,” said Dr. Susan Emmerich, BASF’s NAADP Project Implementation Manager. “No manufacturing experience is necessary to be considered for the program, but an innate curiosity to understand the way things work, desire to work collaboratively, and willingness to learn from experienced technicians are the foundation for success.”
BASF’s Converse site has a fundamental focus on sustainability, as a site that recycles specialty chemical catalysts, such as old catalytic converters from vehicles, which means that fewer metals needed throughout everyday life need to be extracted from the earth. Specialty chemical catalysts and precious metal chemicals are used to produce a wide variety of products, including pharmaceuticals, fragrances, herbicides, fertilizers, plastics, automotive emission catalysts and more. The site supplies customers with fresh catalyst, as well as refining spent ones in a full-loop service. The Converse site is a proud supporter of the Spartanburg community, donating regularly to first responders, local non-profits and more. It also has a focus on diversity and inclusion, creating a welcome space for people from all walks of life.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 17,000 employees in North America and had sales of $18.7 billion in 2020. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at http://www.basf.com.