(Danville) — Workers at one of Southside’s largest employers will get to attend a local college at no cost.
Under a program announced Monday, full-time workers at Hitachi Energy of South Boston can enroll online at Averett University. This is part of a competitive tuition benefit program which means no out-of-pocket tuition to the employees.
“Averett is dedicated to bolstering the local workforce and facilitating accessible educational routes that pave the way for career progression,” said Averett President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks. “Through collaboration with industry partners to support employers’ most important resource – their people – we aim to bolster their employee benefits packages, potentially boosting talent acquisition and retention efforts.”
Hitachi employees can pursue Averett courses, certifications, and degree programs in business administration, cyber security and computer information systems. Also, MBA degrees are available online or in-person across several disciplines.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Averett University, providing our employees the opportunity to further their education through deferred tuition,” said Ryland Clark, Community Relations and Engagement Manager for Hitachi Energy in South Boston. “This initiative underscores our commitment to investing in our teams’ professional growth and development, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive in their careers. By supporting our employees in their educational pursuits, we enhance their skills and knowledge and drive innovation and excellence within our organization.”
This collaboration is part of Averett’s “Workforce Rx” initiative which works with local employers to meet regional workforce and talent development needs at no cost to the employees.
Hitachi Energy’s transformer facility in South Boston started as Westinghouse in 1968, They have around 450 workers. They make distribution and power transformers.