Biopharmaceutical companies would be unable to produce medicines and vaccines without a workforce skilled in maintaining the complex systems inside manufacturing plants. At all times, these employees watch over critical biological, mechanical and electronic applications.
That’s why flu vaccine leader CSL Seqirus, based in Holly Springs, participates in the Wake Tech BioMechatronics Apprenticeship program in Raleigh, North Carolina. Through the initiative, CSL Seqirus apprentices Connor Bowersox and Cody Mercer are paving the way for the next generation of advanced maintenance technicians at the Holly Springs Vaccines Manufacturing facility.
Mercer aims to apply his studies to calibrations or process maintenance, focusing on machines within the Holly Springs site designed for influenza vaccine production. His father, a 25-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, helped him see the value of the program.
“I had a completely different life plan. Now, going through this apprenticeship program and getting the little bit of schooling that they’re putting me through has boosted my will to learn and grow in this business,” said Mercer.
The program delivers for both apprentices and CSL Seqirus, said Mark Lockette, Metrology Manager at Holly Springs.
“We have hired our previous four apprentices. I really like the idea of what I call ‘homegrown talent’ because this allows us to mold these individuals into how they fit here at CSL Seqirus, especially in the maintenance space,” said Lockette, who oversees the apprenticeship program. CSL Seqirus has been offering its own apprenticeships for three years – and joined up with the Wake Tech program a year ago.
Wake Technical Community College formed the eight-month apprenticeship in partnership with the North Carolina Life Sciences Apprenticeship Consortium (NCSLAC) consortium, which includes CSL Seqirus and other biopharmaceutical businesses in the region. The consortium helped Wake Tech align the program with life sciences apprenticeship standards for maintenance technicians.
“I know the world is pushing for a digital future, but it’s not going to be totally digital,” Lockette said. “If you love taking things apart, putting them back together, and understanding how it all works, this is the field for you.”
At Wake Tech’s Beltline Education Center, apprentices attend classes that combine hands-on learning with theoretical foundations in mechanical and electrical engineering, industrial automation and robotics. After completing the course, apprentices transition to full-time on-the-job training as maintenance technicians.
“CSL Seqirus has kept everything really well organized,” Mercer said. “Monday and Tuesday, I can focus on my school portion, and then Wednesday through Friday, I can focus on soaking up as much of the practical work as possible.”
The Holly Springs Apprenticeship Program is part of CSL’s Early Careers initiatives at the site. CSL Seqirus looks for people with a background in mechanics or hands-on technical experience and also values a student’s academic performance and ability to maintain a good rapport with others in the classroom.
“I look for the ability to maintain a school schedule because we offer a lot with this program, and I cannot allow an apprentice to fall behind on the schooling portion of this,” Lockette said.
The Wake Tech BioMehantronics Program is available only to individuals in the United States. CSL also offers apprenticeship programs in other parts of the world. Learn how those programs prepare participants for their professional futures.
