A provincially funded program will upgrade the industry and job-specific skills of 1,200 eligible participants working in tourism and retail sectors in British Columbia.

As part of 'Canada Starts Here - the BC Jobs Plan', our government has invested over $4.2 million in the Workplace Training Program which provides training and development opportunities to individuals employed in the retail and tourism sectors. The program is delivered by a group of post-secondary institutions throughout B.C.

Douglas College developed the curriculum, in consultation with the affiliated institutions and current employers and employees. The essential skills training program is designed to upgrade the industry or job-specific skills of employees in these sectors.

The curriculum is developed for the retail sector and the food-and-beverage segment of the tourism sector, and it is being offered to individuals working in various occupations within those sectors - building on skill development for occupations such as sale associates, cashiers, servers, hosts, bartenders and other roles. Additional curricula may be developed for other segments of the tourism industry.

The flexible program delivery helps to accommodate the varied schedules of those currently working while taking the program. It provides 30 hours of in-class training and helps to improve customer services, developing transferable work skills and employability. At the end of the training, participants receive a Statement of Completion.

The program runs through until March 2013 and is funded through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA). Participants for this program must be eligible for LMA funding - in this case, meaning they are employed but low-skilled (do not have a high school diploma or a recognized certification and/or may have low levels of literacy and essential skills).

Quotes:

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell -

"This program will build greater capacity for organizations and for the people of British Columbia employed in the important retail and food and beverage sectors. Through the Workplace Training Program, workers in this sector will get an opportunity to improve or gain skills, making them more employable."

Executive director of the Training Group at Douglas College Bob McConkey -

"Douglas College is acting as lead institution on behalf of the BC Consortium for Skills Development to deliver the Workplace Training Program. Working with Shelfspace and the B.C. Restaurant & Foodservices Association, Douglas College has designed retail and food and beverage curricula that is relevant to both industries and of the highest quality."

President & CEO of Langara College and Chair of B.C. Colleges David Ross -

"This funding is welcome news and much appreciated. The public post-secondary system recognizes the importance of working together and taking a consortium approach to skills development, so that every region of the province has a labour force that is job-ready, with the right technical and essential skills required by employers."

Learn More:

To find out more about 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan', visit: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

To learn more about the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, visit: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketagreement/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104

BACKGROUNDER

June 20, 2012 Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

Workplace Training Program

The term for the project began on Oct. 1, 2011, with curriculum development beginning early in 2012. Following the development of the curriculum by Douglas College, 13 other post-secondary institutions are working with Douglas College to offer these training opportunities.

Participating Colleges

Douglas College

Camosun College

Capilano University

Langara College

North Island College

Okanagan College

Selkirk College

College of the Rockies

College of New Caledonia

Northern Lights College

Northwest Community College

University of Fraser Valley

Vancouver Community College

Vancouver Island University

The curriculum includes modules on:

- Customer Service

- Successful Selling

- Effective Communication

In addition to Douglas College, key partners in the Workplace Training Program are Shelfspace: http://www.shelfspace.ca/

- and the British Columbia Restaurant & Foodservices Association: http://bcrfa.com/cpages/home

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104