The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding uses real-world experiences and academic classes to educate the next generation of manufacturers. Apprenticeships are not a new concept—in fact, blue-collar professions have relied on apprenticeships for decades to train workers as electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and many more. The Apprentice School was founded in 1919 to help train workers for sometimes grueling physical work at the shipyard.