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BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia Skills for Jobs Blueprint –
Pillar 3

PURPOSE: To strengthen partnerships with industry and labour to deliver training and apprenticeships.

To meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and position British Columbians as first in line for jobs.


MINISTRY


Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Government of British Columbia


DESCRIPTION


British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: Re-engineering Education and Training is designed to match the skills that British Columbia’s students acquire during their education and training programs with labour market requirements. The Strategy undertakes fundamental improvements to make education and training more effective and more relevant to the needs of industry and the workplace.

There are three pillars to the Blueprint:

A head-start to hands-on learning in our schools – expand choices and supports for students in the K-12 system.
A shift in education and training to better match with jobs in demand – encourage students to choose training that leads to high-demand jobs.
A stronger partnership with industry and labour to deliver training and apprenticeships – target skills training to high-demand occupations, remove barriers, and increase the participation of industry and labour.

The British Columbia Skills for Jobs Blueprint was launched on April, 2014. At the same time, the Government of British Columbia released the final report of an independent review of the Industry Training Authority called The Industry Training Authority and Trades Training in British Columbia:Recalibrating for High Performance, which included complementary recommendations and actions specific to British Columbia’s trades training system. All actions and recommendations within these two documents have been initiated and are at various stages of implementation.

Target Group(s)

• Youth, women, Aboriginal people, apprentices and all others interested in pursuing the trades.
• Employers, industry, First Nations and community leaders.
• Trades training providers, both public and private, including the K-12 system.

Innovative Elements(s)

1. Enhanced Engagement with Apprentices and Employers:

15 Regional Apprenticeship Advisors to provide on-the-ground resources for apprentices and employer sponsors, with six Aboriginal-focused Advisors in place throughout British Columbia.
4 Industry Relations Managers to better understand, communicate and respond to each industry’s needs in British Columbia. This will help to ensure that the Industry Training Authority will remain connected to industry and provide British Columbia with the right skilled workers where they are needed.

FURTHER INFORMATION


WorkBC Official Web Site

• 10 industry-led Sector Advisory Groups to provide advice to the Industry Training Authority and government on matters key to ensuring an effective and responsive skills training system for British Columbia.
• Consultation, research and recommendations to identify and implement new ways to reduce barriers and improve the outcomes of trades training, including: partnerships, training locations, scheduling, mobile training, technology or supports specific to students, employers or demographic groups.

2. Tools and Resources

WorkBC.ca is the provincial government’s access point to the world of work in British Columbia. It was created with one key goal – to help all British Columbians successfully navigate the labour market.
Apprentice Job Match tool to connect apprentices with employers.
Trades Training Seatfinder to show where available trades training seats are located.
My Blueprint Builder, a one-stop career planning tool connecting users with skills-training, financial aid and local job-market information.
Leveling The Field – A Best Practices Guide to Employing Women in the Trades to help employers with their overall hiring practices.

3. Awareness

• Connecting young people to opportunities in the trades through an interactive display called Find Your Fit – which travels through the province.
• Published 2014 Youth Trades Guide to encourage people looking to use head, hands and heart to find a career that fits.

RESULTS


Enhanced Engagement with Employers and Apprentices

• Currently in year one of implementation, with measures of success under development for each activity. Early feedback from employers and apprentices has been positive.

Tools and Resources

Apprentice Job Match – Since launching in Fall 2014, over 3,000 apprentice job seekers have registered.
Leveling the Playing Field – Since launching in October 2014, there have been over 1,300 hits and downloads on the site. Print copies are regularly distributed at Industry Training Authority public and industry events.

Awareness

Find Your Fit – Since May 2014, approximately 26,000 students and 11,000 adults have taken part in nearly two dozen communities across British Columbia.
2014 Youth Trades Guide – Since launching in October 2014, over 5,000 trades guides were distributed to schools in British Columbia, and 300 others downloaded from the Industry Training Authority’s website. An additional print is underway due to the high demand. The guide is being used in classes and there is early discussion to create a trades career curriculum to support the guide in schools.