As part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, Northwest Community College will receive $171,428 to purchase new trades training equipment to support students who are entering in-demand occupations that are critical to the economy.

Northwest Community College will use the funds to continue to keep up with industry and curriculum requirements. Equipment examples include electrical training boards for electrical students and a low-bed trailer for heavy mechanic students.

Consultations with post-secondary institutions, the Industry Training Authority (ITA), as well as the most-recent labour-market data, informed funding allocation decisions.

The funding for trades equipment is part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment of $185 million over three years for trades training infrastructure and equipment at public post-secondary institutions. The funding for new trades equipment builds on the 100 additional critical trades training seats at Northwest Community College announced in July 2014.

Quotes:

Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson -

“Having the right tools of the trade during training will pay dividends for students when they enter the workforce. Our investment of more than $171,000 in new trades training equipment at Northwest Community College gives trade students hands-on experience using industry-standard equipment.”

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad -

“New equipment at Northwest Community College will help students get the hands-on experience needed for our growing economy. A career in the trades provides the opportunity for long-term, high income employment.”

Northwest Community College president Ken Burt -

“This funding will help Northwest Community College build on our valuable trades training program that sees students hired in a range of sectors including mining and oil and gas. The ongoing investments in trades by government will help us provide programs in our region that meet the needs of our learners and industry.”

Quick facts:

• B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint was launched in April 2014.
• The Blueprint outlines how the Province is re-engineering the education system - from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond - to make sure education and training aligns with B.C. jobs.
• One million job openings are expected in B.C. by 2022 - more than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, and 44% of jobs will be in skilled trades and technical occupations.

Learn more:

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

B.C.’s 2022 Labour Market Outlook: http://ow.ly/DOw6R

News release on additional critical trades seats for NWCC: http://ow.ly/HYVv2

Media Contacts:

Richelle D. Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

Sarah Zimmerman
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Northwest Community College
250 638-5494

BACKGROUNDER

Supporting trades students at B.C.’s post-secondary institutions

The 18 eligible trades training programs, in the top 60 list of in-demand occupations, delivered by B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions are:

• Carpenters
• Chefs/cooks/bakers
• Concrete finishers
• Construction craft workers
• Crane operators
• Electricians
• Gas fitters
• Heavy equipment operators
• Heavy mechanical trades
• Insulators
• Iron workers
• Machinists
• Millwrights
• Plumbers
• Power engineers
• Sheet metal workers
• Steam/Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
• Welders

Media Contacts:

Richelle D. Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

Sarah Zimmerman
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Northwest Community College
250 638-5494