Earlier this year, the company kicked off a program with MassBioEd and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to train people re-joining the workforce for stable, attractive biotech manufacturing opportunities. MassBioEd’s Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program is building talent pipelines for positions like Biomanufacturing Technicians, providing individuals with non-traditional training opportunities to enter careers in the life sciences. Rentschler Biopharma joined as one of the first employer partners for the expansion of the program into Central Massachusetts. The inaugural group of ten (10) apprentices has completed 16 weeks of training: Eight weeks involved a MassBio-led curriculum including basic academic coursework, as well as an introduction to business and to biotech. The additional eight weeks were spent at WPI Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC) to learn the fundamentals of biotech production, including both upstream and downstream processes. Five of the apprentices started at Rentschler Biopharma in September, and the remaining five at the end of November.
Mark Caswell, Vice President, Site Head, Rentschler Biopharma, Inc., said: “Rentschler Biopharma has remained relevant throughout its history by creating value sustainably for our employees and clients. We focus on anticipating the needs of tomorrow with highly trained and experienced people. The workforce training program we have undertaken with WPI and MassBioEd is truly a win-win situation, enabling people from underrepresented communities to enter careers in the biotech space while supporting our need to bring in new talent.”
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