Hitchiner Manufacturing Provides Job Training To New Hampshire Students

Hitchiner Manufacturing has a long history of partnering with local organizations to train the next generation of workers. Recently, we collaborated with Milford High School to launch a new program that will provide workforce training to the town's high school students in various manufacturing functions. 

The Manufacturing Exploration and Externship program was developed over the course of several months, bringing professionals from Hitchiner Manufacturing together with Milford High School teachers and administrators to develop a course that will provide students with the skills they need to enter a career in advanced manufacturing. This semester-long program will provide classroom instruction, along with an externship two days a week where students will hands-on experience at our manufacturing facilities. Students will be paid $12 an hour for their work, as well as have the chance to earn college credits through the Community College System of New Hampshire.

Beginning in the fall of 2019, up to 20 juniors and seniors will have access to the Manufacturing Exploration and Externship program, which will complement the existing machining and engineering programs already in place at Milford High School. Instruction will focus on three areas of manufacturing, custom manufacturing, mass production and just-in-time manufacturing. It will also include information used today in most modern manufacturing facilities, such as quality control, safety and robotics, as well as job readiness skills such as interview skills and resume writing.

There are other programs in New Hampshire that connect high school students with local companies for job training opportunities, but the in-depth instruction students will receive through the Manufacturing Exploration and Externship program make it among the first of its kind in the state.

When the program was announced, Hitchiner Manufacturing Chairman and CEO John H. Morison III spoke about the company's efforts to invest in the state's future workforce, and that the current job market makes this a promising program for students. 

“With our planned expansion, there are many opportunities on the horizon for young people seeking a career in manufacturing and this program will help get them there,” said Morison.

Hitchiner Manufacturing sees this program as a way to set them on a path for a long career. In addition to job training, immersive programs like the Manufacturing Exploration and Externship program give students an understanding of the expectations they will face on the job each day once they enter the working world and will help them make important connections they can use when looking for a job after graduation.

Hitchiner Manufacturing: A Commitment To Education

This is not the only job training program Hitchiner Manufacturing is actively participating in. We are also working with the Manchester nonprofit, MY TURN, and Nashua Community College to help high school students in the Merrimack Valley launch their careers. The program's sessions are taught by Hitchiner’s experienced trainers who are also active employees at the company, giving students the hands-on experience they can use at their first job out of school. There have already been nine students who completed the program in 2018 and all of them were offered entry-level positions working at Hitchiner Manufacturing in the wax injection, shell building, foundry and post-cast departments at our Milford campus. 

Career Opportunities At Hitchiner Manufacturing

Hitchiner Manufacturing views its employees as one of its most valuable assets. We aim to be leaders in workforce development, investing in education and training for its employees as well as those in the greater community. Hitchiner has opportunities today not only for young people beginning their careers but positions for more experienced workers as well.  Click here to learn why 60% of our employees have been with Hitchiner for over 10 years.