Governor McMaster and the Department of Employment and Workforce

 Announce BMW as the 2024 Workforce Champion Award Recipient

Columbia, S.C. – As part of the culmination of Workforce Development Month activities, Governor Henry McMaster and S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd presented BMW with the 2024 Workforce Champion Award at the Governor’s Mansion yesterday, Tuesday, September 24.

This award honors an employer that has displayed extraordinary effort and innovation in developing and connecting educators and students with employment opportunities in South Carolina. BMW was selected as the honoree because of its commitment to providing hands-on experiences to middle and high schoolers in its state-of-the-art facility and its exceptional apprenticeship programs, which are the first of their kind in the state.

“South Carolina is at the forefront of business innovation and career opportunities, and our young people are more aware of that truth than ever before,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “BMW is educating and training South Carolinians from childhood to adulthood about the importance of manufacturing in our state. I am proud to present this award to BMW as they represent the best of our workforce, support our communities, and help create strong families.”

BMW was celebrated at the ceremony for its summer camps featuring Robotics Days, its ongoing outreach efforts at schools and job fairs, and its groundbreaking Scholars and Rising Scholars Programs. The Scholars Program is a two-year apprenticeship for students with manufacturing-related degrees at Greenville Technical College, Spartanburg Community College, and Tri-County Technical College to attend class full-time while working part-time at BMW.

The Rising Scholars Program is a one-year apprenticeship for high school seniors to work part-time at BMW while attending high school and a Career and Technical Education Center. This program was one of the first of its kind in South Carolina, paving the way for other companies to follow in BMW’s lead.  After successfully completing the program, they are presented with a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor and become eligible for the BMW Scholars Program.

“Along with Governor McMaster, it is my privilege as the Executive Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce to present the Workforce Champion Award to BMW,” said DEW Executive Director William Floyd. “BMW educates our young people about the importance of STEM-related careers in advanced manufacturing in a way that makes them easily understood and achievable.”

The award was presented to Vice President of Human Resources Sherry McCraw, Department Manager of Talent Programs Paul Sinanian, and Manager of Government and Community Relations Max Metcalf, on behalf of BMW.

“The most important investment for BMW is our people, and our future workforce is right here in South Carolina. We must provide students with opportunities to learn through experience so they will take an educational path that leads them to a successful career,” said BMW Vice President of Human Resources Sherry McCraw. “The rapid pace of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and electrification is transforming the automotive industry. This means we must provide a learning environment that promotes creativity, fosters innovation, and teaches technical training skills.”

With more than 11,000 jobs in its Spartanburg plant, BMW has assembled over 6.5 million vehicles in South Carolina. To learn about its achievements and apprenticeship programs, please visit bmwgroup-werke.com/spartanburg.

"BMW is the ideal recipient for our agency’s second-ever Workforce Champion Award because they are an employer deeply invested in our students,” concludes Floyd. “We encourage all employers in South Carolina, regardless of size or industry, to follow their lead and help build relationships with students in their local areas. Whether it be a business adopting a local school, offering internships or apprenticeships, or simply participating in job fairs and career days at schools – young people are the future of our workforce and the best, long-term investment an employer can make.”

The Workforce Champion Award recipient was nominated and selected by DEW’s Regional Workforce Advisors, who connect employers with educators, students, and parents across the state. For any business interested in learning about student outreach, please reach out to a Regional Workforce Advisor at rwa@dew.sc.gov.