One hundred and twenty people on the downtown eastside will have access to an eight-week training program that will help them learn practical kitchen skills that could result in employment or further training opportunities, announced Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell.

The Trained for Success program is a part of a Labour Market Sector Solutions project with the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA). The project is designed to help eligible participants gain employment through eight-weeks of kitchen skills, cooking and safety training; Food Safe certification; resume writing and interview skills; and life coaching.

The BCRFA expects to help 120 participants over an 18-month period of multiple and continuous intakes, and will be delivering the project in partnership with H.A.V.E. (Hope, Action, Values, Ethics) - a well-established training kitchen on the downtown eastside. Participants must be Labour Market Agreement eligible - meaning they are unemployed, non-Employment Insurance individuals, or are employed, low-skilled individuals.

Graduates from the program will have the opportunity to be placed in positions such as dishwashers; prep cooks; and first, second or third cooks in Lower Mainland restaurants. The program will also provide students with uniforms, transportation and food to help them complete the program.

Over the last five years, H.A.V.E. has successfully trained over 500 students with over 75 per cent of them gaining steady employment in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Trained for Success is supported by $498,600 in funding through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation -

"Our government's top priority is creating and protecting jobs for British Columbians, and we are doing that by supporting programs just like Trained for Success. Our focus is on ensuring all British Columbians have access to skills training opportunities, regardless of their income level, background or job experience."

"This is about giving people the opportunity to train and gain skills that make them employable, so they can be an active participant in our labour market."

Ian Tostenson, president and CEO, B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association -

"The Trained for Success program is a highly effective targeted program that provides funding for the H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Centre, which trains downtown eastside residents to work in restaurant kitchens."

"Not only does the program help deal with labour shortages in the kitchens of B.C. restaurants, but the students graduate with a skill that will help them build a new life. This is a very life changing and practical program."

Quick Facts:

• The objective of the Labour Market Sector Solutions program is to invest in the skills development of eligible participants, while assisting industries/sectors, employers and workers to address labour market needs throughout B.C.
• According to The British Columbia Tourism Labour Market Strategy released by go2 earlier this month, the tourism industry in B.C. is anticipating more than 101,000 job openings by 2020 - including more than 43,400 in food and beverage services.
• Over the next decade, British Columbia is projected to have over one million job openings. The BC Jobs Plan will ensure the over $500 million provided annually for labour market and training programs is targeted to meeting regional and industry labour market needs.
• As part of this annual expenditure, B.C. invests approximately $66 million a year - between 2008 and 2014 - in programs and services that help people get the skills they need to fill job opportunities in regions where they live and study. These programs and services are funded through the Canada - B.C. Labour Market Agreement (LMA).
• B.C. also invests over $100 million annually in industry training through the Industry Training Authority (ITA). There are currently more than 32,000 apprentices in the system - more than double the number of apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• In 2012-13, the Ministry of Social Development will invest $343.5 million in employment services and apprenticeship training, of which nearly $280 million will come from the federal government.

Learn More:

To learn more about HAVE, visit: http://www.have-cafe.ca/

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

For more information on the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, visit:

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketagreement/

Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

Looking for a one-stop resource for the working world? Visit WorkBC: http://www.workbc.ca/

Media Contact:

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