Home VA Ready partners with BAE Systems to help Virginians find employment
News and Views

VA Ready partners with BAE Systems to help Virginians find employment

AFP

virginia ready initiativeThe Virginia Ready Initiative is partnering with BAE Systems to get more individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic response into skilled trades.

BAE Systems is an international defense, aerospace and security company that delivers a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces along with support and service solutions for intelligence and civilian customers.

In partnership with VA Ready, a non-profit dedicated to retraining unemployed and underemployed Virginians across the Commonwealth, BAE Systems will help train and place program participants primarily into manufacturing-related jobs that do not require a clearance, including the marine trades, HVAC and electrical industries.

BAE Systems also has opportunities for cleared IT and cyber professionals.

“Our partnership with BAE Systems will lead to many great opportunities for Virginians who have been struggling to recover from the financial fallout of COVID-19,” said Caren Merrick, CEO of Virginia Ready. “The opportunities BAE Systems will help VA Ready provide to unemployed and underemployed Virginians in the near-term will have a profound impact on our community. BAE Systems is one of the most admired companies in Virginia and many Virginians will benefit from our partnership.”

BAE Systems, headquartered in Falls Church, is committed to investing in the communities in which it operates.

“We look forward to working with VA Ready as program participants begin their job search,” said senior vice president for Human Resources and Administration at BAE Systems, Michelle Murphy. “We are proud to help people get back to work and know that we will benefit from having their significant talents in our workforce.”

Enrolling in one of VA Ready’s 34 approved credential courses is the first step to get back to work for any Virginian who has experienced employment disruption as a result of the pandemic.

VA Ready partners with the state-led FastForward program, which enables students to take pre-approved classes at any of the Virginia Community College System’s 23 community colleges.

VA Ready provides an added incentive for students to complete their credential, offering a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award upon completion of the program and an opportunity to interview for positions with any of VA Ready’s business partners.

For more information about the VA Ready Initiative or how to apply for the program, visit vaready.org.

 
 




Featured Video

 

AFP

AFP

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and YouTube. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.

Latest News

uva football
Football, Go 'Hoos

Live Coverage: UVA Football faces Wake Forest on trick-or-treat day

UVA Health
Local

UVA Health acquires State Farms operations center on Pantops

UVA Health announced on Friday that it has acquired the 365,000-square-foot former State Farm operations center on Pantops, which will allow the health system to free up additional capacity at University Hospital to expand inpatient care.

vdot road construction
Local

VDOT: Local road construction, maintenance on the schedule for the week

VDOT has released its updated list of ongoing road construction and maintenance projects for local drivers.

Gary Critzer Waynesboro
Local

Waynesboro: Gary Critzer inducted into Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame

Pillar to Post Pro-Wrestling Podcast
Pro Wrestling

Ray Petree | Terry Funk vs. Leatherface: Two sons of Texas facing off in Japan

acc basketball
Basketball

Women’s Basketball: ACC schedule for 2026-2027 opens on Sunday

soccer Somalia
Go 'Hoos, Sports

Men’s Soccer: UVA settles for draw with #18 Pitt; season on the brink