WeTrain Washington
WeTrain Washington is a nonprofit joint labor-management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and union grocery employers that operates free apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs (Meatcutter, Fishmonger, Community Pathways) preparing underrepresented Washington State workers for skilled union grocery jobs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WeTrain Washington does
WeTrain Washington is a private nonprofit workforce development organization structured as a joint labor-management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and union grocery employers. Founded in 2021 as a formal entity, the organization operates a portfolio of four programs targeting the Washington State grocery workforce: the Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship (8-week hybrid), the Meatcutter Apprenticeship (2-year, state-registered since 1946), the Fishmonger Apprenticeship (pilot launched April 2024), and Community Pathways to Grocery Careers (2-week intensive for veterans and dislocated workers). All programs are free to participants and lead to union grocery jobs with full benefits and journeyman wages of $25.32–$29.70/hour depending on county. The organization trains workers from underrepresented backgrounds including immigrants, women, and People of Color, with explicit focus on economic stability, workplace equity, and career pathway creation.
The organization's underlying "technology" is administrative rather than proprietary. It relies on the WorkHands app for apprenticeship progress tracking, Calendly for interview scheduling, and Microsoft Forms for enrollment applications, alongside in-person Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) at South Seattle College Georgetown Campus, Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center in Everett, and UFCW Local 3000's Spokane office. There is no software product, API, or platform. The governance and credentialing infrastructure — the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) and registration with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council — functions as the core institutional technology, providing the regulatory legitimacy that makes credentials portable across all 50 states.
The business model is grant-funded rather than tuition-based. WeTrain Washington receives funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (WIOA Title I-B via Career Connect Washington and a Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant), the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, and presumably employer contributions. Revenue from the 14+ employer partners (Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger/Fred Meyer/QFC, PCC, Town & Country, Haggen, Metropolitan Market, Rosauers, and others) flows indirectly through OJT worksite provision and job placement commitments rather than direct fees. Geographic scope is limited to three Washington State counties (King, Snohomish, Spokane), and headcount stands at 7 staff members. Customer acquisition is community-led: UFCW 3000 union channels, community-based organizations, veterans' programs, and direct employer referrals drive enrollment, with no paid marketing infrastructure.
WeTrain Washington firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WeTrain Washington
- Legal name
- WeTrain Washington
- Website
- https://wetrainwa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- WeTrain Washington is a nonprofit joint labor-management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and union grocery employers that operates free apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs (Meatcutter, Fishmonger, Community Pathways) preparing underrepresented Washington State workers for skilled union grocery jobs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WeTrain Washington industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Training
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Butchery, Charcuterie & Meat Processing (EDAOAKAI)
Keywords
Where WeTrain Washington is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
WeTrain Washington business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: WeTrain Washington is a grant-funded workforce development organization. Funding is received from the U.S. Department of Labor WIOA Title I-B Adult, DW, and Youth grant through Career Connect Washington, a U.S. Department of Labor Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant, and the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy. Programs are free for participants.
- Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeship (Tuition): Tuition is fully covered for the Meatcutter Apprenticeship program, suggesting funding flows through employer-union joint contributions or public grants rather than participant tuition fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Meatcutter Apprenticeship — fully covered tuition |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship — free admission |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Community Pathways to Grocery Careers — free with stipend |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Fishmonger Apprenticeship — free for eligible employees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
WeTrain Washington product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WeTrain Washington designs and delivers free apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and career-pathway training programs for grocery workers in Washington State. As a joint labor-management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and union grocery employers, it operates the Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship, Meatcutter Apprenticeship, Fishmonger Apprenticeship, and Community Pathways to Grocery Careers, producing state-certified journeymen placed at 14+ partner grocery chains.
Product overview
WeTrain Washington operates as a joint labor management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and grocery employers, offering a portfolio of workforce development programs in the grocery industry. The core offerings include four distinct programs: the Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship (free 8-week hybrid prep course), the Meatcutter Apprenticeship (2-year nationally recognized certification program with tuition fully covered), the Fishmonger Apprenticeship (pilot program launched April 2024), and Community Pathways to Grocery Careers (2-week intensive for veterans and job seekers). The programs collectively advance leadership and job skills for grocery workers, improving job quality and promoting workforce equity. A job referral service connects graduates with union positions at 14+ partner grocery chains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship An 8-week hybrid program preparing individuals aged 18+ for careers as union Meatcutters, combining 7 e-learning modules with 7 in-person classes covering food safety, retail meat cuts, primal cuts, cooking, seafood, and customer service. Admission is free with competitive acceptance; locations in King County and Snohomish County.
- Meatcutter Apprenticeship A nationally recognized 2-year program established in 1946 teaching the meatcutting trade, leading to WA state journeyman certification honored in all 50 states. Includes Related Supplemental Instruction, on-the-job training at employer worksites, comprehensive curriculum in beef, pork, lamb, and poultry processing, food safety, and industry credentials. Tuition fully covered; apprentices earn journeyman wages of $29.70/hr (King/Snohomish) or $25.32/hr (Spokane) plus full union benefits.
- Fishmonger Apprenticeship A pilot program launched April 2024 developing skilled seafood professionals through 144 hours of Related Supplemental Instruction and 2000 hours of on-the-job training within one year. Registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, leading to a journeyman fishmonger credential. Currently partnered with Town & Country Markets for UFCW 3000 union fishmongers.
- Community Pathways to Grocery Careers A fast-paced two-week intensive course providing knowledge, skills, and confidence to start careers as union grocery store workers. Includes 40 hours of in-person training at the Seattle Labor Temple, a $300 stipend upon completion, food handler's permit, OSHA training, job placement support, employer hiring events, field trips, and union contract benefits education. Targets King County veterans and other job seekers.
- Union Grocery Jobs A job referral portal connecting workers with union grocery careers at partner employers including Safeway, Albertsons, Haggen, Fred Meyer, QFC, PCC Community Markets, Town & Country Markets, Metropolitan Market, Red Apple Market, Thriftway, Saars Super Saver Foods, Central Co-op, Rosauers, and Uwajimaya. Serves as the placement channel for WeTrain Washington program graduates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Meatcutter Apprenticeship established in 1946 — over 78 years of continuous operation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use WeTrain Washington
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WeTrain Washington technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
WeTrain Washington partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UFCW Local 3000coreUFCW Local 3000 is the labor union partner in the joint labor-management initiative with WeTrain Washington. The union provides workforce pipeline, collective bargaining support, and governance through the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC). UFCW 3000 staff serve on WeTrain's Board of Directors and JATC. The union covers all major grocery chains in Washington State.
- South Seattle CollegecoreProvides college credits for Meatcutter Apprenticeship course completion. The Georgetown Campus serves as the primary training location for Meatcutter and Fishmonger Apprenticeship Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) classroom sessions. South Seattle College also provides academic calendar and college resources for enrolled apprentices.
- Sno-Isle TECH Skills CenterminorSnohomish County training location for the Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship program. Located at 9001 Airport Rd., Everett, WA 98024.
- Town & Country MarketscoreFirst employer partner for the Fishmonger Apprenticeship pilot program (launched April 2024). Town & Country Markets employees in the seafood department are eligible for the apprenticeship. The company provides on-the-job training worksites and participates in the JATC. Management staff (Rachel Barker, JD Derment) serve as program advocates and JATC committee members.
- SafewayOne of 14 union grocery employer partners. Safeway employees are eligible for WeTrain apprenticeship programs. Meat & Seafood Operations Specialist John Guerra is a WeTrain program advocate and notes WeTrain graduates are working in Safeway and Albertsons stores.
- AlbertsonscoreOne of 14 union grocery employer partners. Albertsons employees are eligible for WeTrain apprenticeship programs.
- PCC Community MarketscoreUnion grocery employer partner. Meat Operations Manager Jeff Soto is a JATC committee member and program advocate. Field trips for CPGC program are conducted at PCC Markets.
- UFCW 3000 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC)coreGovernance body for WeTrain apprenticeship programs. Composed of union representatives and employer representatives from grocery chains including PCC Community Markets, Town & Country Markets, Safeway/Albertsons. Oversees program standards, curriculum, and credentialing. Registered with Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WeTrain Washington competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Year Up: Year Up is a large workforce development nonprofit providing training-to-employment pathways for young adults from underrepresented communities, partnering with employers for job placement. Comparable in mission (career pathway creation for underserved workers) and grant-funded operating model.
- Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is the largest US nonprofit workforce development operator, delivering sector-specific training and job placement for underrepresented workers through employer partnerships. Comparable as a similarly-structured nonprofit workforce developer serving entry-level job seekers with employer-driven program design.
- UFCW International Union - Apprenticeship Programs: UFCW International coordinates labor-management apprenticeship initiatives across multiple locals (including UFCW 3000, WeTrain's parent partner). Highly comparable because it operates apprenticeship frameworks for grocery and food processing workers nationwide, sharing governance model and funding pathways with WeTrain Washington.
Direct peers
- National Fund for Workforce Solutions: National Fund is a workforce intermediary funder and convener supporting sector-based partnerships and apprenticeship models. Comparable as a similarly structured intermediary that channels philanthropic/public funds to employer-driven workforce development programs and supports apprenticeship design.
- WRTP-Big Step: WRTP-Big Step is a Wisconsin-based labor-management workforce intermediary running registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in manufacturing, construction, and skilled trades. Comparable as the closest direct peer: labor-management structure, registered apprenticeship focus, and pre-apprenticeship-to-journeyman pathway model.
- Helms College / ICIF Culinary Apprenticeship: Helms College operates culinary apprenticeship programs registered with the US Department of Labor. Comparable as a registered apprenticeship provider in a food-trade specialty offering tuition-covered pathways to journeyman credentials with employer-union participation.
Regional players
- Workforce Central (Pierce County): Workforce Central is a Washington State regional workforce development board serving Pierce County. Comparable as a co-located Washington workforce development operator, with similar funding sources (WIOA Title I-B), serving overlapping populations with job-placement-focused training.
- Seattle Jobs Initiative (now Seattle Career Connect): Seattle Jobs Initiative / Seattle Career Connect runs industry-sector career pathway programs in Seattle targeting underrepresented job seekers. Comparable as a King County-based workforce development nonprofit with overlapping employer relationships, funder base, and target population.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national nonprofit providing tuition-free technical training and apprenticeships in IT and skilled trades. Comparable as a tuition-free apprenticeship provider targeting underrepresented adults with employer-aligned training, but operates outside grocery/food trades.
- Hopewell 'Foundations of Restoration' Workforce Programs: Hopewell 'Foundations of Restoration' is a Washington-based community workforce program with training in food-related trades. Comparable as a smaller emerging workforce operator in Washington State with overlapping mission around food industry trades and historically excluded workers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WeTrain Washington social profiles
Digital presenceWeTrain Washington financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WeTrain Washington leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
WeTrain Washington funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WeTrain Washington M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WeTrain Washington
What does WeTrain Washington do?
WeTrain Washington designs and delivers free apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and career-pathway training programs for grocery workers in Washington State. As a joint labor-management initiative between UFCW Local 3000 and union grocery employers, it operates the Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship, Meatcutter Apprenticeship, Fishmonger Apprenticeship, and Community Pathways to Grocery Careers, producing state-certified journeymen placed at 14+ partner grocery chains.
Is WeTrain Washington a public or private company?
WeTrain Washington is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WeTrain Washington founded?
WeTrain Washington was founded in 1946. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is WeTrain Washington based?
WeTrain Washington is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does WeTrain Washington make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are employer-Sponsored Apprenticeship (Tuition).
Who are WeTrain Washington's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Year Up, Goodwill Industries International and UFCW International Union - Apprenticeship Programs. Direct peers are National Fund for Workforce Solutions, WRTP-Big Step and Helms College / ICIF Culinary Apprenticeship. Regional players are Workforce Central (Pierce County) and Seattle Jobs Initiative (now Seattle Career Connect). Emerging players are Per Scholas and Hopewell 'Foundations of Restoration' Workforce Programs.
Does WeTrain Washington have an API?
No public API is recorded for WeTrain Washington.
What industry is WeTrain Washington in?
WeTrain Washington's product category is Workforce Development Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAC, Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning, with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 611513.