The Province has announced today that it has invested, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), $7 million in Vancouver Community College (VCC) for trades training through to March 31, 2017, to meet industry needs and ensure quality training in high priority trades.

In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific high priority trades.

With the government’s $7-million investment, the ITA will fund 1,870 trades training seats at Vancouver Community College in:

• Automotive Service Technician
• Heavy Mechanical
• Baker
• Professional Cook
• Commercial Transport Mechanic

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016JTST0089-000969

The provincial government also highlighted the innovative partnership that Vancouver Community College has developed with White Spot Restaurants. Each year, White Spot selects cohorts of students from VCC to train at White Spot’s state-of-the-art culinary training facility in Vancouver. This makes White Spot the only hospitality company in the province to be formally accredited to deliver Professional Cook Training 1 and 2. Students in the White Spot Culinary program return to VCC to complete Professional Cook Training 3 and become Red Seal graduates.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

“We are expecting almost one million job openings in B.C. over the next decade. Our investments through the skills for jobs blueprint specifically target high priority trades so that we can ensure that we have the workforce necessary for our growing economy. Apprentices and their employers are an invaluable part of our province’s economy; they help fill our labour market demands and keep our economy diverse and strong. I want to congratulate White Spot and Vancouver Community College for working together to help promote and support apprenticeship in B.C.”

Suzanne Anton, MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview—

“It is a pleasure to see outstanding B.C. businesses like White Spot, with its headquarters right here in Vancouver-Fraserview, develop partnerships with post-secondary institutions to create this win-win situation. This approach works - students are happy to receive hands-on experience with a renowned business leader, and employers are training professionals that they can retain for years to come.”

Warren Erhart, president and CEO, White Spot Restaurants - 

“We appreciate the need for well trained employees and applaud the government's investment in skills training. White Spot has been involved in the Red Seal program for over 10 years. By providing Red Seal training, we’ve elevated skill and pride within our organization, and enhanced the development and trades accreditation opportunities we offer employees and prospective employees. VCC has been a valuable partner in helping us meet the demand for skilled professionals.”

Dr. Peter Nunoda, president, Vancouver Community College - 

 “This arrangement between White Spot, the Vancouver Community College and the Industry Training Authority is an excellent example of how partnering works to deliver apprenticeship training for students for in demand jobs that meet everyone’s needs.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority - 

"The partnership between VCC and White Spot is a great example of innovation at work to ensure that British Columbians are first in line for future job opportunities in the province. Programs like this enable apprentices to receive the training and knowledge they need while businesses benefit from having highly skilled employees year round, which in turn keeps B.C.'s economy growing strong. "

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) –more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• Based on the latest Labour Market Outlook, B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2024 due to retirements and economic growth.
• 8/10 of these job openings will require some sort of post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

• White Spot Red Seal Program: https://www.whitespot.ca/careers/red-seal-chefs
• Vancouver Community College Culinary Program: http://www.vcc.ca/programscourses/program-areas/program-highlights/culinary/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=online&utm_campaign=VCCWebRedirect
• Industry Training Authority: http://www.itabc.ca/
• B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint.aspx