A new trades training partnership in Northwest B.C. will allow 37 unemployed young adults to access, for the first time ever, a piping trades foundation course, giving them an opportunity to acquire skills that are in high demand in that region.

Through a Labour Market Sector Solutions agreement with the Piping Industry Apprenticeship Board (DBA the UA Piping Industry College of B.C.), the piping trades exploratory and foundational training program will lead to level one certification in one of the following piping trades:

• Welding.
• Plumbing.
• Steam-fitting.
• Sprinkler-fitting.

A shortage of skilled workers in the region is anticipated due to growth and investment in the natural gas, oil and other energy sectors throughout this region. This program will go a long way in helping to support industry need for skilled workers and will give youth in the region an opportunity to train for a career in the trades, while staying close to their home community.

Participants will be trained at the UA Piping Industry College of B.C. with a majority of the training taking place on location at the recently opened Kitimat satellite campus. They will take a six-week exploratory program, which will allow participants to make a career choice within the piping trades. From there, they will be assessed and referred to either the foundation program or technical training.

Participants must be Labour Market Agreement eligible - meaning they are unemployed, non-Employment Insurance individuals, or are employed, low-skilled individuals. The training program is expected to wrap-up in March, 2014.

The Northern Piping Trades Skills Development Project is supported by nearly $500,000 in funding through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation -

"A career in the trades is very lucrative right now, particularly in the North where we are seeing significant economic growth and investment. We need to make sure we can continue to provide the skilled labour force required to meet the demand this growth is creating."

"Programs like the Northern Piping Trades Skills Development Project focus on reaching out to a group of people who are ready to be employed, but need training and support. It's a very valuable program that will help meet demand for workers in the piping trades."

Al Phillips, executive director of training and apprenticeships, UA Piping Industry College of B.C. -

"We are proud to partner with the government of B.C. as they work with their partners to enhance B.C.'s labour market through investments in programs like the Northern Piping Trades Skills Development Project."

"We look forward to working closely with the communities in Northwest B.C. while we provide relevant trades training to participants in the area. The skills and training they will receive will enable them to take advantage of the upcoming job opportunities in the region."

Quick Facts:

The UA Piping Industry College of B.C. is a private, PCTIA accredited and Industry Training Authority designated institution, offering piping trades and apprenticeship training in the following disciplines: plumbing, sprinkler-fitting, steam-fitting, welding and piping foundation.

Over the next decade, British Columbia is projected to have over one million job openings -more than 104,600 in the trades alone.

• Between 2010 and 2020, average annual growth in trade occupations employment is expected to be the highest in North Coast and Nechako (Northwest B.C.) at 2.7 per cent - compared to 1.2 per cent for B.C. as a whole.
• Within these regions, trades occupations are expected to increase as a percentage of total employment to 13.8 per cent in 2020, and a greater share of job openings in this region will be due to new jobs, compared to other regions in B.C.
• 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.
• 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).

Learn More:

UA Piping Industry College of B.C.: http://www.uapicbc.ca/

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 & Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-8177