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College Launches Training for Amgen Expansion

Unique Apprenticeship Program Will Prepare Biotech Workforce

RALEIGH, N.C. (January 13, 2025) – The first group of apprentices has officially signed on with Amgen in a unique program that will prepare a skilled workforce for the biopharmaceutical leader's planned expansion in Wake County.

Amgen announced last month that it plans to invest $1 billion to expand its manufacturing facility in Holly Springs. Wake Tech held an athletics-style signing ceremony Monday to kick off the training program, complete with fanfare and cheers.

"There are a couple of reasons why this workforce development program is so unique," said Dr. Scott Ralls, president of Wake Tech. "First, it is an extremely comprehensive and rigorous program providing the participants an opportunity to gain a unique depth and breadth of biotechnology skill sets. Secondly, as an apprenticeship program, the participants are being paid while in training and will receive a pay increase once they successfully complete the program."

Each of the 12 apprentices has already completed the BioWork certificate program at a North Carolina community college and has been certified as a bioprocess technician:

  • Amit Pal Singh
  • Armani Evans
  • Christian Stokes
  • Declan Beaty
  • Elijah Oquendo
  • Jan Luther McDonald
  • JaQwan Barkley
  • Kadeja White
  • Majayla Copeland
  • Owen Tomaszewski
  • Prabha Vijayakuma
  • Tilly Scriven

The apprentices will take degree courses at Wake Tech's Southern Wake Campus for the next six months to strengthen their knowledge in bioprocess practices and measurements, cGMP quality systems, industry reporting and validation. They will earn certificates in BioQuality and BioManufacturing and will have completed about a year's worth of college credit toward an associate degree.

"These students will be learning at the best community college in the state," said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. "No one has a stronger commitment to building Wake County's talent pipeline than Wake Tech."

The apprentices will receive additional industry training in upstream processing, downstream processing and batch processing through the BioNetwork Capstone Center and will receive customized training in skills such as team building, financial literacy and Microsoft applications. After six months, they will transition to full-time on-the-job training as manufacturing associates at Amgen, and a new cohort of apprentices will begin at Wake Tech. Apprentices are paid a salary starting on Day One.

"This is the most comprehensive learn-and-earn training model I have ever seen," said Ralls.

"I want to say congratulations to the apprentices," said Paul Lewus, Amgen's North Carolina site head. "I think you've made fantastic decision to join Amgen, and this is just the beginning. We'll be adding more and more apprentices in the years to come."

Amgen's partnership with Wake Tech dates back three years, with the company utilizing office space and other resources at the college as it ramped up operations in Holly Springs. Amgen also sponsors a "co-laboratory" at Wake Tech's RTP Campus in Morrisville, a unique space where technologists and industry professionals collaborate on ideas, new technology and industry trends.

"Amgen has quickly emerged as one of Wake Tech's best partners," said Ralls.

Amgen's expansion will be adjacent to its existing facility on the northwest side of Holly Springs, south of U.S. Highway 1. This project brings the total site investment to more than $1.5 billion, with employment projected to reach 725 by 2032. It will enable Amgen to increase capacity and meet current and forecasted demand for life-saving medications across the globe.

Meanwhile, Wake Tech continues to expand its apprenticeship program, supported by Wake County's WakeWorks® initiative. The college currently has nearly 500 apprentices working at 150 companies across the Triangle. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized Wake Tech as an "Apprenticeship Ambassador" for the college's work to provide apprenticeship opportunities. To learn more, visit apprenticeship.waketech.edu.

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December 2024

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