Apprenticeships that Work: Heavy Equipment Operators in Lexington County

Midlands Technical College and our corporate and continuing education division works regularly with government entities and businesses to train employees on everything from heavy equipment to sterile processing to office software systems.

MTC President Greg Little and Lexington County Director of Public Work Brent Hyatt recently visited the Lexington North Lake Center to celebrate the success of our first class of the Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship for Lexington County.

“Our apprenticeship programs are really about retention and growth of existing employees and providing them opportunities to grow and investing in them as people,” said Dr. Little. “As a result, you deepen your connection because they're your hardest working and they're showing up to commit themselves.”

“The partnership has been amazing and goes a long way in addressing our operational needs,” said Hyatt. “The workforce is changing, and we are always looking for hard working reliable operators. The heavy equipment program helps fill the biggest need for public works because we have 1300 miles of roads to maintain.”

The MTC HEO Program is the first-of-its-kind in South Carolina and is funded by a grant from the Truist Foundation and Truist Financial Corporation’s community reinvestment department. The funding allowed MTC to purchase two simulators that teach students how to operate four types of heavy equipment: backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, and motor graders.