BioSTL and Apprenti Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Registered Apprenticeships in St. Louis Life Sciences

ST. LOUIS, MO — [June 19, 2026] — BioSTL, the bedrock of St. Louis’ bioscience innovation, and Apprenti, the nation’s leader in tech and specialized registered apprenticeship, are proud to announce a new partnership aimed at bridging the skills gap in the region’s booming Life Science sector. Through a recently executed agreement, the two organizations will collaborate to deliver high-fidelity Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs that provide local aspiring career seekers with “earn-while-you-learn” pathways into high-demand roles.

As the greater St. Louis area continues to solidify its position as a global leader in health care and agtech—evidenced by MilliporeSigma’s recent $76 million expansion of its Bioconjugation Center of Excellence and the record-setting $1.7 billion in private-sector investment attracted by regional startups this past year—the need for a skilled, robust workforce has never been more critical. This partnership specifically addresses the challenge cited in the 2025 State of the St. Louis Workforce Report, which highlights the technical skills gap as the primary hurdle for regional employers.

Impact for Employers: The partnership simplifies the adoption of the Registered Apprenticeship model for local employers. By leveraging Apprenti’s expertise as a national intermediary and BioSTL’s deep regional industry ties, companies can:

• Scale Faster: Access a proven framework for specialized roles like Biomanufacturing Technicians and Life Science Automation Technicians.
• Reduce Risk: Utilize Apprenti’s “Employer of Record” partner model to lower administrative burdens and recruitment costs compared to traditional staffing.
• Tap into Robust Talent: Build a pipeline from a screened, resilient candidate pool that prioritizes individual , aptitude, and attitude over traditional degree status.

Impact for Career Seekers: This partnership opens new doors for local residents:

• Paid Career Training: Apprentices are full-time employees from day one, receiving a paycheck while gainfully gaining industry-recognized credentials.
• Economic Mobility: Programs focus on high-growth occupations in the Cortex Innovation District and 39 North Agtech hub that offer family-sustaining wages & benefits.
• Direct Industry Mentorship: Apprentices receive on-the-job training guided by the region’s top scientific minds, ensuring their skills match the current market demand.

“A stronger workforce means a stronger tomorrow for St. Louis,” said Brittany Whitley, PhD, Director of Regional Workforce Strategy at BioSTL. “By partnering with Apprenti, we are responding directly to industry hiring needs while ensuring that the benefits of our region’s innovation economy reach every corner of our community.”

“Apprenti is thrilled to officially kick off this partnership with BioSTL,” said Daniel Weagle, Director of Life Science Business Development at Apprenti. “Together, we are not just filling jobs; we are building a sustainable, skills-based talent development model that will fuel St. Louis’ life science growth for years to come.”

About BioSTL

Founded in 2001, BioSTL is the backbone of St. Louis’ bioscience innovation ecosystem — coordinating industry, investors, research institutions, and partners to turn world-class science into lasting economic growth. Through its startup arm, BioGenerator, BioSTL has supported more than 400 companies, making over $50 million in early-stage investments that have attracted nearly $3 billion in follow-on capital and created thousands of high-quality jobs. BioSTL also develops a diverse, skilled local workforce and builds St. Louis’ global reputation as a hub for innovation in human health and agriculture. Learn more at www.biostl.org.

About Apprenti

Apprenti is the national leader and recognized Registered Apprenticeship Intermediary. We deliver Registered Apprenticeship programs for 30+ occupations that upskill your current employees and provide accelerated readiness for new hires across high-demand STEM industries including technology, healthcare, human resources, advanced manufacturing, banking & finance, and the life sciences. We offer a proven path to high retention and measurable ROI.

By connecting individuals to structured, earn-and-learn career pathways, Apprenti creates economic mobility for workers and sustainable talent solutions for employers. Since its founding in 2016, Apprenti has trained over 6,500 apprentices while helping over 350 companies across the United States build their skilled, technical workforce.

Learn more at apprenticareers.org.

About Registered Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship applies a model with centuries of precedent to modern careers: workers earn wages on day one, benefit from experienced mentors, and receive classroom instruction. Registered Apprenticeships (RA) are occupation-specific apprenticeship programs, validated by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), that result in nationally portable credentials. Apprenti is an apprenticeship intermediary, working with employers to design and deploy RA solutions that meet their workforce needs. Learn more at apprenticeship.gov.