Work-Based Learning at Your Business
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is a set of activities that occur in the workplace or are informed by businesses. WBL provides participants with hands-on, real-world experiences.
What you’ll get when you engage with future talent:
Exposure Value
More awareness about your business/industry
- Build brand awareness with future talent
- Strengthen the local economy and your business’s reputation
Production Value
Real work gets done
- Extra hands to boost capacity
- Bring in fresh perspective and innovation
Conversion Value
Participant can become a hire
- Solve immediate and future talent gaps
- Home-grown, predictable talent pipeline
- Cut hiring & onboarding time and cost
- Shape the exact skills you need
- Retain and upskill local employees
WBL Toolkit and Resources
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Business Case for Engaging with Future Talent
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Upcoming Opportunites to Work with Future Talent
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Work-Based Learning Toolkit
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Employer’s Guide to Work-Based Learning Talent Partners
Business Case for Engaging With Future Talent
Why Download the Business Case to Engage with Future Talent Resource
The Business Case for Engaging with Future Talent one-pager explains why it’s critical for businesses to engage with future talent, what you’ll get when you do, and links a webpage listing current opportunities to get involved.
Share this one-pager with leadership, HR, talent acquisition and other key staff in your organization.
Download the Resource
Have Questions? Contact Jess Fuller, Sr Director of Economic Impact at jess@arvadachamber.org
| Opportunity | Type | Date | Population | Description | Business Effort | Value to You |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WYCO (Wyoming Colorado) @ Virtual Host: Workforce Colorado Sign Up: Email: Jason Pickett (jpickett@jeffco.us) | Job Fair | Oct 13, 2026 | Veterans/Job Seekers | Showcase your organization, engage with potential hires, and explore opportunities to expand your team | Low |
Exposure:
Builds business and industry awareness
Conversion: Participant can become a hire |
|
Jeffco 10th Grade Career Expo
Jeffco Stadium
Sign Up
Flyer Sponsorship Opportunities |
Career Exploration | Oct 15, 2026 | Youth (up to 18) | Staff a booth and share about your business/industry with future talent | Low | Exposure: Builds business and industry awareness |
|
RRCC STEM & Trades Career Expo
@ Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood Campus
Sign Up
Free to participate! Contact: Schulyer.Simonton@rrcc.edu |
Job Fair |
Oct 22, 2026 1-4pm |
RRCC Students and Faculty | Meet the students and faculty of Red Rocks to share career opportunities with your business. | Low |
Exposure:
Builds business and industry awareness
Conversion: Participant can become a hire |
| Industry Exposure @ Arvada HS or Your Business Contact: Michael Sena (michael.sena@jeffco.k12.co.us) |
Job Shadow, Interviews, Internships |
2026-2027 School Year |
Arvada High School Students |
Students are seeking industry experts to share their experience
through job shadowing, interviews, and possibly internships.
Students are interested in a wide range of fields, including law enforcement, non-profit organization work, marketing, medical services/health sciences, military, entrepreneurship, construction, and more. If your industry isn't listed, we would still love to connect! |
Low-Medium |
Exposure:
Builds business and industry awareness
Production: Students can contribute meaningful work and support Conversion: Participant can become a future hire |
|
Spring Internship Interview Event
@ 581 Conference Place, Seminar #3, Golden, CO 80401
Registration Form
(complete by 10/19)
Contact: Jenny Herbaugh |
Internship, Interviews |
Nov 19, 2026 3:30-5:30pm Internship: Jan-May 2027 |
Jeffco Public Schools students seeking paid and unpaid internships |
We host these interview events each semester to make the interview
process easier for both students and industry partners. Instead of
coordinating multiple interviews on your own, you can meet several
motivated students in one afternoon and identify candidates who
are the best fit for your offer.
Please note: It is not mandatory for businesses to attend the interview event to get matched with a Spring intern. Internship opportunities are open to all Jeffco high schools; however, not every student interested in an internship will be able to attend this event. There is no guarantee that a student will match your organization's internship offer. |
Low-Medium |
Exposure:
Builds business and industry awareness
Production: Students can contribute meaningful work and support Conversion: Participant can become a future hire |
|
HVAC and Electrical Internships
@ Your Business
Fill Out an Interest Form
Or email: mckenna.biddle@jeffco.k12.co.us |
Internship |
12 Weeks Spring Semester 2027 |
12th Graders Arvada West High School |
The Career Explore Program at
Arvada West High School gives seniors the opportunity to
explore careers through hands-on, real-world work experiences.
This spring, students will complete a 12-week internship with local businesses and organizations in a career field of interest. We are currently looking for HVAC and Electrical industry partners who may be willing to mentor and host a Career Explore student this spring. |
Medium-High |
Exposure:
Builds business and industry awareness
Production: Students can contribute meaningful work and support Conversion: Participant can become a future hire |
The Chamber Offers a Free Work-Based Learning Toolkit for Businesses
This free toolkit provides businesses with key information in one place to help them start or formalize a work-based learning (WBL) program. Participants will learn about the benefits of offering WBL opportunities and explore which type of programming is the best fit for their business.
Why Download the Work-Based Learning Toolkit
The toolkit offers templates, checklists, links to resources, and information in one place, saving businesses time and money. It is designed to increase ease, build confidence, and help employers turn work-based learning into a sustainable strategy that benefits businesses, participants, and the broader community.
With the toolkit, businesses receive key information so they can make informed decisions about providing a WBL program. Businesses can share the toolkit with multiple staff, creating an opportunity for cross-training.
Who is the Toolkit for?
This toolkit is for employers of all sizes and industries! People who serve the following functions will benefit from the toolkit. (Note: It might make sense for one or multiple people within your business to access the toolkit.)
- People who determine whether to offer a WBL program, and/or the return on investment (ROI) the WBL program will yield.
- Staff developing the WBL program
- Staff managing WBL participants
- Staff in charge of talent acquisition and human resources
What You’ll Get After Downloading the Toolkit
The Greater Arvada Chamber wants to ensure you have the support you need for your work-based learning program long after you download the toolkit.
- Access to upcoming implementation workshops
- Opportunities to connect with other businesses providing WBL
Download the Toolkit
We recommend businesses review the toolkit 3+ months before they want to offer programming.
Have Questions? Contact Jess Fuller, Sr Director of Economic Impact at jess@arvadachamber.org
Download the Chamber’s “Employer Guide to Work-Based Learning Talent Partners”
This guide includes information on the following partners for work-based learning: CareerWise Colorado, Front Range Community College, Jeffco Public Schools, Red Rocks Community College – Career Success Center, Westminster Public Schools, and Workforce Colorado (Jefferson, Clear Creek, Gilpin).
The purpose of this guide is for businesses to easily determine which education and training partners to reach out to based on:
- The type of support the business is seeking
- Who the business wants to offer work-based learning (WBL) to
- What type of WBL the business wants to offer
- Where your business is located across Arvada, Jefferson and Adams Counties
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce is committed to ensuring businesses receive the necessary resources, connections and supports so it is easy to implement work-based learning, businesses experience high-value in offering it, and it serves as an effective mechanism for hiring high quality-talent and strengthening talent pipelines. This guide is not comprehensive of all education and talent partners in the region. We plan to expand the guide to highlight more partners as it proves its value to businesses.
WBL Success Stories
Watch the below Success Stories from Silver Linings Mental Health, Balefire Goods, Snarky Sweet Cake Chick, Salzano Electric, and Forward Steps.
