Students throughout British Columbia will have new opportunities for skills training, thanks to more than $1.7 million in one-time funding being provided to 10 B.C. public post-secondary institutions to prepare workers for jobs in their regions.

Foundation training programs provide trainees with the basic knowledge and skills needed for entry into a particular occupation. Students receive credit for the first level of apprenticeship training in the specific field by the Industry Training Authority (ITA) once they have successfully completed the foundation program.

Supporting B.C.'s Skills and Training Plan, the funding creates 360 seats at 10 post-secondary institutions across British Columbia.

Completion of a foundation program provides successful students with the relevant skills to be employable within their industry. Students who complete a foundation program are highly sought after by employers as they have the necessary skills to be productive on the job immediately. Students may apply the credits earned in a foundation program for entrance into other programs, or, with agreement from their employer, obtain an apprenticeship. Full-time foundation programs can vary from 13 weeks to 10 months in duration.

Students, educators and parents can learn more about foundation programs, training and careers in the trades at the Discover Trades BC website - www.discovertradesbc.ca - designed to getting more students excited about trades work.

Quotes:

Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap -

"The funding we're announcing is helping to train-up workers for the current job market. It's another key step in B.C.'s Jobs Plan where we are delivering the right mix of workers, with the right skills in the right regions to meet local labour demands."

Facts on training in B.C.:

Government invests more than $100 million annually in industry training through the Industry Training Authority (ITA) - the provincial Crown agency responsible for overseeing B.C.'s industry training and apprenticeship system. This investment is almost $33 million (or 45 per cent) higher than it was in 2004 when the ITA was established.

B.C. is investing $1.9 billion to support post-secondary education this year.

Learn More:

Industry Training Authority: www.itabc.ca

Trades Training BC: www.tradestrainingbc.ca

Discover Trades: www.discovertradesbc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400

Funding supports foundation skills training needs

The following 10 post-secondary institutions received one-time grants, totalling over $1.7 million and 360 full-time equivalent student seats, to deliver foundation skills training in the trades:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology - $162,400

• Burnaby - 16 seats in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration

• Kelowna - 16 seats in inboard/outboard mechanic at Rutland Senior secondary as part of the ACE-IT program

• Camosun College - $463,320

• Interurban campus - 18 seats in refrigeration mechanic

• Interurban campus - 36 seats in electrical

• Interurban campus - 18 seats in joinery

• Interurban campus - 18 seats in carpentry

• College of New Caledonia - $65,280

• Burns Lake - 16 seats in Welding C

• College of the Rockies - $91,200

• Cranbrook - 16 seats in heavy duty mechanics

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University - $250,240

• Cloverdale - 16 seats in carpentry

• Cloverdale - 16 seats in electrical

• Cloverdale - 16 seats in millwright

• Cloverdale - 16 seats in parts and warehousing

• Northwest Community College - $65,280

• Terrace - 16 seats in electrical

• Okanagan College - $342,872

• Kelowna - 36 seats in electrical

• Kelowna - 16 seats in metal fabrication

• Kelowna - 18 seats in plumbing and piping combined

• Revelstoke - 12 seats in electrical

• Thompson Rivers University - $65,280

• Kamloops - 16 seats in electrical

• Vancouver Community College - $109,440

• Broadway campus - 16 seats in heavy-duty/commercial transport mechanic

• Vancouver Island University - $108,000

• Nanaimo - 12 seats in baking

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400