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North Carolina Surry-Yadkin Works
Surry-Yadkin Works is a work-based learning program with opportunities for pre-apprenticeships, job shadowing, and business and education engagement.
Program Description:
Surry-Yadkin Works and Surry Community College have partnered to form a multifaceted work-based learning program for area high schoolers and adults. This program provides learners with career-connected experiences like pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and more.
Current junior, senior, and super senior high school or homeschool learners in four different districts have the opportunity to apply for pre-apprenticeships.
Surry-Yadkin Works also runs the Fostering Learning Through Employment, Education, & Trades (FLEET) program, which places soon-to-be high-school graduates in manufacturing programs with Altec Industries. They attend high school classes for half of the day and then attend paid pre-apprenticeships for the other half. High school students who do not have time for a full-length pre-apprenticeship have opportunities to complete job shadowing experiences.
Surry Community College learners can also participate in career-connected education experiences, which count toward academic credit for graduation. One example that support career progression in a high-demand field is for learners who are currently enrolled in or have recently completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program who can apply for a healthcare apprenticeship.
Impact:
In 2026, 85 learners accepted part-time employment, full-time employment, or apprenticeships through Surry-Yadkin Works. An additional 37 learners accepted employment opportunities in healthcare.
The success of Surry’s initiative has been noticed. In 2025, North Carolina’s governor and the state’s workforce boards made statewide funding and grants available to launch similar programs. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute recently launched a program inspired by the Surry-Yadkin Works model.
Population Served:
Learners of all ages in the Surry-Yadkin area, including those enrolled in local high schools and community colleges and adult learners.
Learn more here.
Page last updated in August 2026
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