Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson announced $255,000 in 2015-16 for Northwest Community College (NWCC) to purchase industry-standard trades equipment to help students get hands-on training that will put them at the front of the hiring line.

NWCC intends to purchase equipment such as a cable analyzer that electrical students will use to learn how to repair data and Internet cables, and a low-bed trailer for heavy-equipment mechanic students to haul large equipment and gear to jobsites.

“Providing trades students with hands-on experience using equipment used on jobsites in the northwest is another way our government is ensuring that British Columbians are first in-line for jobs in sectors such as LNG and construction,” said Wilkinson during a visit to Terrace where he unveiled a mobile trades unit purchased with trades equipment funding from 2014-15. “The provincial economy needs the support of a skilled workforce.”

The funding for new trades training equipment is part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint that launched in April 2014.

“Targeting funding and programs to in-demand jobs, including those in the trades, will help students get the skills and training needed by industry,” said Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “B.C.’s 2022 Labour Market Outlook shows that the top growth occupations in our region are in the trades, and we want to help all students ─ including Aboriginal students ─ take advantage of these opportunities.”

Government is investing $185 million over three years in new trades training equipment and facilities throughout B.C. to support students entering in-demand sectors including LNG, shipbuilding and ship repairs, and construction.

Earlier this year government announced $5 million for 14 institutions to purchase new equipment, as well as $13 million to reduce wait lists in high-demand trades programs, creating 2,917 additional seats at public post-secondary institutions. NWCC has received more than $2.3 million to support the delivery of trades training through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, including the latest infusion of funds for trades equipment and funding for a new mobile trades training unit.

“The investment in equipment to support our successful trades training programs helps Northwest Community College deliver training across our very large geographic region,” says Ken Burt, president of Northwest Community College. “We are always grateful for the ongoing support and investment in our students, which puts them on good footing to succeed in the workforce upon graduation.”

Consultations with institutions, the Industry Training Authority, as well as current labour market data, inform decisions for funding.

Quick facts:

• B.C.’s 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.
• By 2022, B.C. expects to have more than one million job openings in B.C. - and more than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education.
• Approximately 13% of the one million projected job openings to 2022 are for in-demand trade occupations in B.C.

Learn more:

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

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

$6.1 million for 1,429 additional critical-trades seats in 2015-16: http://ow.ly/OeLxh

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

Funding training equipment to support trades programs

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