September 16, 2021

Great Bay Community College Launches In-Demand Manufacturing Skills Training for Businesses

Highly flexible manufacturing and industrial courses available in October

Portsmouth, N.H. (September 15, 2021) – Beginning in October, Great Bay Community College (GBCC) Business and Training Center (BTC) is launching a new flexible program for manufacturing training.

Some of the equipment students will be training on as part of the College’s new foundational manufacturing courses including a 3-Axis Mill (pictured). The 20 hour, four-week courses offer a both employees and employers a flexible option for learning and enhancing in-demand technical skills.
(Photos courtesy of GBCC)

These four-week training programs were created as part of the college’s workforce initiative to support the community’s ongoing need for skilled workers.

“There is a big demand for skilled manufacturing employees in our local workforce and we are creating delivery methods that enhance accessibility and focus on skills that can be applied starting on day one,” said Kurt Douglas, program coordinator and instructor at GBCC’s Rochester Campus. “We are excited to offer this new solution for training existing workers and investing in a current talent pool without affecting everyday business operations.”

With over 10 years in manufacturing and industrial training experience, GBCC is offering in-demand instruction and is poised to provide the high-skill employee training without interruption to staffing responsibilities, workflow or productivity.

Developed through input from area business leaders, the first rollout of course offerings include: Manufacturing Skills and Knowledge, Shop and Construction Math, Technical Blueprint Reading Fundaments and CNC Setup Operator Fundamentals.

These 20-hour manufacturing courses meet twice a week for four weeks and are taught online and at GBCC’s simulated workspace and state-of-the art facility in Rochester. Online classes will be recorded, allowing students to access them at the time that works best for their schedules, offering flexibility for timing and learning modalities. Trained faculty are familiar with the businesses allowing for up-to-date curriculum based on current needs and trends.

Some of the equipment students will be training on as part of the College’s new foundational manufacturing courses including a CNC Lathe (pictured). The 20 hour, four-week courses offer a both employees and employers a flexible option for learning and enhancing in-demand technical skills. (Photos courtesy of GBCC)

Backed by a reputation for responsiveness and over 45 years of experience, GBCC BTC started training NH Veterans after World War Two with the skills needed to reintegrate into the workforce, and the college has been meeting workforce needs ever since. GBCC’s local instructors have industry expertise, classroom knowledge and experience working with adult learners.

GBCC BTC also guides businesses in developing custom training programs that meet critical needs starting with a skills assessment, building training plans and concluding with course evaluations – all while gathering data to craft future programs.

Courses are designed to assist businesses by minimizing onboarding and training time, to elevate productivity and efficiency, as well as fill skills gaps, improve employee safety and meet compliance needs. They include instruction in advanced manufacturing, safety, hand tool skills, non-destructive testing, lean manufacturing, precision machining, construction math, technical blueprint reading, intro to CAD technology and more.

Companies that have used GBCC BTC for training needs include Teledyne DGO in Portsmouth, which specializes in extreme environment electrical interconnect systems; Sig Sauer, a firearms manufacturer in Exeter; and Cobham, a leading global technology and services innovator in Exeter.

To learn more about the new manufacturing and industrial courses visit https://www.greatbay.edu/in-demand-skills-training/.

About Great Bay Community College

Great Bay Community College is a comprehensive postsecondary institution offering quality academic and professional and technical education in support of workforce development and lifelong learning. Great Bay Community College is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire, a public system of higher education consisting of seven colleges in Berlin, Claremont, Laconia, Concord, Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth. The colleges offer Associate degrees and career training in technical, professional and general fields, including transfer pathways to baccalaureate degrees. For more information on Great Bay Community College, visit www.greatbay.edu.