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NEWS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and
Economic Development |
VICTORIA – The Province is investing $17 million in 10 projects around B.C. to improve the skills of people who are either unemployed or under-qualified, providing small businesses with new training resources to meet their labour demands.
The projects were announced today by Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
“These projects will help solve one of the biggest concerns facing B.C.’s small businesses today – and that’s making sure they have the well-trained staff that will help them grow and prosper as the economy recovers,” said Black. “We’re partnering with small business organizations that know what their members need, and are stepping up to the plate to provide it.”
The projects are varied, with some designed to meet the needs of small businesses across all sectors, and others targeted directly to the manufacturing, forestry, hospitality, construction, horticulture and food service industries. Some will be offered provincewide, while others are aimed at specific areas of the province.
“A well-trained and highly skilled workforce is essential to the success of B.C.’s businesses, no matter what size they are,” Stilwell said. “The benefits of improved skills are well documented, with higher productivity and lower accident rates just two of the ways this training can benefit both employer and employee.”
Training can be either job-specific, or can focus on building essential skills like computer use, literacy and working with others, to help employees expand their abilities and improve productivity.
“Through our
Labour Market Agreement with B.C., and new projects like these, we are
delivering on our commitment to help British Columbians get the skills and
training they need to find and keep good jobs,” said Diane Finley, federal
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, and
through projects like this, we are ensuring that all Canadians are ready for
the jobs of tomorrow.”
“These projects will go a long way to supporting businesses in an array
of sectors,” said Linda Larson, Small Business Roundtable vice-chair. “Small
businesses will benefit from valuable training opportunities that both attract
new employees and improve the skills of their current workforce.”
Under the Labour
Market Agreement, the federal government is providing the Province with about
$66 million a year until 2012-13. Through a variety of programs, these funds
increase training for employed people who need essential skills or recognized
credentials to reach their full potential in the marketplace. They also help
increase access to training for unemployed people who are not receiving
employment insurance. Programs include people from groups that are under-represented
in the labour market.
For more information
on the Labour Market Agreement, visit www.WorkBC.ca.
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BACKGROUNDER
SMALL BUSINESS LABOUR MARKET PROJECTS
1.
Continuous Improvement Training
This project will provide workers in the manufacturing sector who have low skills with the training to develop tools in problem-solving and upgrade their foundational literacy and numeracy skills. It will also help small business in the manufacturing sector become more competitive. The project will be delivered by the Alliance of Canadian Manufactures & Exporters on Vancouver Island (operating as Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, BC Division), on the southwest Mainland, in the Thompson-Okanagan and in the Cariboo. (www.pullaheadbc.com)
2.
Employed, Low-Skilled Workers, “Growth Employees”
This provincewide project is designed to upgrade the skills of people working for small businesses, ensuring employees have the training they need to do their jobs. It is offered through ASPECT (Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training). (www.aspect.bc.ca/about/asbetp.php)
3.
Seasonal Employee Exchange
Through this provincewide project, the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association will help seasonal employees keep working year-round. Workers’ skill levels will be assessed, training provided where needed, and employees working in one season (for example, winter accommodation in a ski area) matched with jobs in another season (for example, an RV Resort).
4.
Skilled Trades Employment
The British Columbia Construction Association is offering this project to help unemployed people and workers with low skills enter and advance in construction careers. It will also strengthen small businesses in the construction sector. The program will be offered through 11 locations: Abbotsford, Campbell River, Fort St. John, Nelson, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and Victoria. (www.bccassn.com)
5.
Job Placement
This B.C. Chamber of Commerce project will help unemployed people –
especially those in groups that are under-represented in the labour market –
prepare to find jobs in the Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria regional
districts. The program will be offered through partner offices in Vancouver, North Vancouver,
Richmond (starting in September), Victoria and the West Shore.
6.
Foundational Horticulture Skills Training
The B.C. Landscape and Nursery Association will provide entry-level workers with the foundational skills and knowledge they need to find and keep jobs in the landscape industry. The program will be offered on Vancouver Island, on the southwest Mainland and in the Thompson/Okanagan region. (www.bclna.com)
7.
HAVE Training and Job Placement
The Hope, Action, Values and Ethics Training and Job Placement project, offered throughout the Southwest Mainland by the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, will produce qualified workers ready to take food preparation jobs, helping the food service industry solve labour shortages. (www.bcrfa.com)
8.
Residential Construction Training
Under this project, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia will expand its delivery of eight residential construction courses to new areas of the province, improving the technical or business skills of unemployed people or workers with low skills. The courses will be available in 14 new locations: Campbell River, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Invermere, Nelson, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Powell River, Prince Rupert, Sechelt, Terrace and Williams Lake. (www.chbabc.org)
9.
Forestry Labour Force Development
This project, provided through the Truck Loggers Association, will develop specific training plans to help people prepare to return to the forest industry of the future. The program will be offered on Vancouver Island and the North Coast, and in the Cariboo, Nechako and the Northeast.
10. Gray Skills
This project will help people over 50 years old in the Greater Victoria area find jobs in local small businesses. It will be offered through the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance Society. (www.viea.ca)
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Contact: |
Carolyn Heiman Communications Manager Small Business, Technology and Economic Development 250 952-0152 / cell 250 888-3545 |
Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Advanced Education and Labour Market Development |
For more information on government
services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the
Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
