Facing a need for car salespeople in the Maple Ridge-Tri-Cities area, Douglas College is receiving more than $316,000 in provincial Community and Employer Partnership funding to help up to 45 people get work experience in that sector.

Over the next year, three groups of up to 15 people are getting 10 weeks of skills training in sales techniques and customer service, two weeks of on-the-job work experience at local car dealerships and four weeks of job search support in preparation for the retail automotive sales sector in Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

Workers will learn advanced sales strategies and negotiation skills, achieve a Professional Dealership Sales Associate certificate and a Douglas College certificate of Completion in Retail Automotive Sales Training.

Project-Based Labour Market Training helps groups of people with on- or off-the-job employment training and is a component of Community and Employer Partnerships, which were introduced in April 2012 as part of the Employment Program of BC.

To date, more than 500 job seekers have benefited from Community and Employer Partnership work experience and 130 community projects have been funded.

Quotes:

Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Don McRae -

“Knowing there is a need for knowledgeable sales people in the retail automotive sector, this Community and Employer Partnership will help fill that gap with well-trained people who will be poised to make a good living selling cars and trucks.”

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Dr. Doug Bing -

“In the Maple Ridge-Tri Cities area, driving is a fact of life. People need vehicles and they need good salespeople to help them choose the right one for them. This project will provide some high-quality salespeople who will help our residents pick the right vehicle for them.”

Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton -

“This super example of Project-Based Labour Market Training will help fill a need for qualified sales people in vehicle sales in the Maple Ridge-Tries Cities area. Once this project wraps up, there will be up to 45 more qualified salespeople ready to help British Columbians select a car, truck or van.”

Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer -

“The Community and Employer Partnership is great news for this region. Obtaining the proper training is really important for people to be able to provide the best possible service to customers looking to buy a new or pre-owned vehicle.”

Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Douglas Horne -

“The Tri-Cities area and Maple Ridge will benefit from having more well-trained, motivated salespeople to help people choose their vehicles. This will also benefit the economy as more people will be earning a good living, while others are buying vehicles.”

Douglas College Community and Contract Services programmer Sandy Camire -

“The automotive industry here in Maple Ridge and the Tri-Cities, as well as provincewide, is in need of well trained, licensed employees. Douglas College is thrilled to have the opportunity to assist in filling this gap by providing a pool of qualified candidates. Industry and employer support is tremendous and they are telling us our program is exactly what they need. We are proud to deliver this quality-filled program to assist participants in pursuing a lucrative career in the automotive industry.”

New Car Dealers Association of BC president and CEO Blair Qualey -

"With record B.C. new car sales in 2014, this sales training program could not come at a better time. The automotive sector has become a sophisticated, high technology business and offers lucrative above-average wages, benefits and career opportunities. I congratulate the Government of B.C. and Douglas College on their leadership.”

Participant Margaret -

“This program is giving me the opportunity to improve my sales skills as well as being able to enter a new career where I can make a good living.”

Participant Neil -

“The backing and participation of many dealerships is an encouraging indication that we will be successful in finding employment in the car sales industry.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2014-15, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
• The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
• Funding supports 85 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation
• The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint that helps align training and education with in-demand jobs and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market or who face unique challenges.

Who is eligible?

• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions

Learn More:

For more information on Job Creation Partnerships and Community and Employer Partnerships: http://www.workbc.ca/CEP

To find a local WorkBC Employment Services Centre: www.workbccentres.ca

To learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi

Media Contacts:

Grant Kerr
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
250 387-5635