Bay Area Council Takes Center Stage at Inaugural Advancing Apprenticeship Summit

The Bay Area Council played a leading role at the inaugural Advancing California Apprenticeship (ACA) Summit held in Riverside, California from October 7-9, showcasing the region’s commitment to expanding apprenticeship pathways as a critical workforce development strategy.

With an impressive turnout of 400 attendees and a waiting list of 150 participants, the summit demonstrated the growing statewide interest in apprenticeships as a proven model for addressing California’s workforce challenges.

The Bay Area Council and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) SF conducted a focus group as part of our groundbreaking ROI of Apprenticeship Study, led by the Economic Institute. This study, planned to be published in Q1 2026, will identify which industries and members of our business community can benefit most from leveraging Apprentices as a talent strategy.

The summit included a first-of-its-kind Apprenticeship Declaration signed by statewide leaders present and a digital commitment portal with 40 group pledges and counting. The declaration and commitments reflect a unified commitment to expanding these vital career pathways beyond their skilled-trade roots into healthcare, professional services, tech, and education.

In its inaugural year, the summit was supported by the Irvine Foundation and the Foundation for California Community Colleges with leading involvement from LAUNCH Apprenticeships. The Bay Area Council, as a founding member of Northern California Apprentice Network (NCAN), will play a key role in the next iteration of the summit, planned to be hosted here in the Spring of 2027.

To engage in the Council’s workforce development efforts, please contact Vice President of Public Policy Kelly Cure.