Adaptive Construction Solutions Joins GAN Global Board of Directors

Adaptive Construction Solutions, Inc. (ACS) has achieved unanimous approval from the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Global) for General Council membership and a seat on the GAN Global Board of Directors. ACS, as the ninth corporate member, now stands alongside industry giants like Accenture, Firmenich, Microsoft, The Adecco Group, Nestle, UBS, Buhler, and L’Oreal, representing the clean energy sector within the global economy. 

In the United States, apprenticeship programs have seen remarkable growth, expanding by over 103% since 2014, with nearly 650,000 active apprentices spanning 24 diverse industry sectors and nearly 30,000 programs. As part of a national workforce strategy, the U.S. government has set an ambitious goal of achieving 4 million active apprentices by 2035. This expansion of apprenticeships directly benefits American workers, employers, and the overall economy. 

Nick Morgan, ACS Founder and President, commented, “This is a historic moment not only for ACS but also for the apprenticeship ecosystem in the United States and beyond. Our unwavering focus remains on developing high-quality apprenticeship programs that connect apprentices to the dignity of work.” 

Kathryn Rowan, Executive Director of GAN Global, emphasized, “Apprenticeship programs are among the most potent solutions for bridging the skills gap for both companies and individuals. They bring immense benefits to apprentices and employers alike, preparing individuals for long-term, meaningful employment. We are delighted to welcome ACS to our mission of nurturing quality apprenticeships.” 

For nearly eight years, ACS has delivered employer-centric strategies to expand apprenticeships across multiple sectors while promoting economic mobility for underrepresented populations. These efforts have propelled ACS to the forefront as the largest apprenticeship intermediary for the clean energy sector and the national leader in including diverse populations, including the highest representation of disabled apprentices. In addition to serving as an apprentice sponsor, ACS offers prevailing wage and apprenticeship consulting services to twelve of the largest clean energy sector Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms in the U.S. 

GAN Global emerged in response to the persistently high youth unemployment that followed the 2009 economic downturn. Even as economies worldwide gradually recovered, youth unemployment remained a pressing issue. During the 2012 G20 and B20 meetings, government and business leaders called for measures to address this challenge. 

In response, the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Organization of Employers (IOE), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Business at OECD came together to establish GAN Global. 

GAN Global's mission encompasses all forms of work-based learning, reflecting the evolving world of work that demands young people to acquire and develop skills and encourages flexible and lifelong approaches to training. 

GAN Global and ACS each played a pivotal role in the 111th International Labor Conference, which resulted in the adoption of a new Recommendation on Quality Apprenticeships. This groundbreaking labor standard for quality apprenticeships aims to support opportunities for people of all ages to skill, reskill, and upskill continuously in rapidly changing labor markets. It provides a universally accepted definition of apprenticeships and outlines aspirational standards for quality apprenticeships, including rights, protections, and apprentice development. 

Mirroring the transformational growth experienced in clean energy sectors worldwide, the U.S. clean energy sector is primed for expansion in quality apprenticeships. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on August 16, 2022, marked the most significant direct investment in expanding clean energy and indirect investment of apprenticeships in history. It offers enhanced financial incentives for the construction, alteration, and repair of clean energy projects, specifically when workers are paid a prevailing wage and apprentices are employed. The IRA is expected to lead to the creation of thousands of new apprenticeships across the United States. 

Adaptive Construction Solutions | https://www.goapprenticeship.com/

Global Apprenticeship Network | https://www.gan-global.org/