On Thursday afternoon, over 70 local employers, workforce leaders, and education partners gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for Untapped, a panel and networking event designed to help local employers tackle their workforce challenges through proven work-based learning (WBL) strategies and apprenticeship-tailored solutions. Powered by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana, the event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to highlight real-world strategies tailored to the Indy region, empowering employers to confidently integrate work-based learning into their talent pipelines—and unlock the full potential of the next generation workforce. 

“We’re thrilled to help bring together our city’s workforce leaders in effort to network, learn and collaborate as we work to grow the work-based learning movement in our region,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s President + CEO. “We believe in the power of WBL and apprenticeships to not only help employers develop the next generation of talent but also shift their current workplace culture in new and valuable ways.” 

Talent experts from EmployIndy, Ascend Indiana, Indy Chamber, Aracamed, and the Indianapolis Airport Authority provided insights and guidance on topics like unlocking the power of WBL, launching and scaling WBL programs, preparing participants for success, integrating inclusivity, and more. 

As students face increasing challenges in preparing for meaningful and sustainable careers, and employers express concern about the lack of skilled and diverse workers who can meet their evolving demands, EmployIndy is working to connect youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends to fill these gaps. Last year, 48,220 WBL and career-connected learning activities were facilitated or supported by EmployIndy, including 142 Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) youth apprentices at 12 Marion County high schools. Additionally, 599 employers delivered career exploration, engagement, and experience activities to Marion County K–12 and postsecondary students. 

What We Heard from Employers 

Throughout the event, several key themes emerged from our conversations with employers: 

• Start small, learn, try, learn again. 

• Hope is not a strategy. To stand out and fill talent gaps, you have to take initiative. 

• Intermediary partners can help growth, but internal champions and flexibility will make it stick. 

• WBL transforms teams from task managers into talent mentors. 

• Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with the right partners.  

What’s Next 

This conversation was just the beginning. Coming soon, we’ll host a series of small roundtable events focused on key topics such as legal considerations, student preparation, and managing WBL programs as they grow. 

And the momentum is strong—100% of employers who responded to our follow-up survey said they would recommend Untapped to others. We’re excited to continue the conversation and build on this energy at our next event. Please be on the lookout for future communications from EmployIndy about our next event. 

To get connected to WBL resources and learn how this talent strategy can take your organization to the next level, reach out to businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org. 

EmployIndy, alongside our employer and school partners, gathered at the Dallara Experience Hub in Speedway to proudly recognized 17 modern youth apprentices who graduated from the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), as well as introduced a new fifth cohort of apprentices and employers participating in the program at the 2025 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event.  

MAP, a three-year program, connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.  

During their time in the program, each graduating apprentice from the first cohort earned their high school diploma, an hourly income from their employer, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation. The new fifth cohort of 16 apprentices, selected from hundreds of applicants, will begin the program in their junior year of high school, splitting their time between the classroom and the workplace.  

“We're always excited to celebrate these groups of students who are taking control of their futures with the opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections while still in school,” says Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “Our employer partners are invaluable in not only equipping these young professionals with valuable skills, mentorship, and opportunities for long-term success, but also finding a strategic solution to close the skills gap and co-develop their next generation of workers.” 

As a talent strategy and experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers and educators to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.  

The Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event, taking place annually, marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions. As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization. During the 3-year experience, EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, actively supports apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.  

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.com.