The British Columbia government announced today an investment of $937,453 in the UA Piping Industry College of B.C. for skills training in high-priority trades seats.

Scott Hamilton, MLA for Delta North, announced the funding today on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, during a tour of the UA Piping Industry College of B.C. facility in Delta.

The investment, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), will fund 451 seats through to March 31, 2017, in various trades, including:

• Welder
• Plumber
• Steamfitter/pipefitter
• Sprinkler system installer

The funding is part of the ITA’s annual allocation to B.C. post-secondary institutions and training providers to run various training programs throughout the province.

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 in-demand trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually 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.

UA Piping Industry College of B.C. is a private post-secondary trades training provider with campuses in Delta, Terrace and Fort St John. UAPICBC is an ITA-designated training provider, delivering apprenticeship training in welding, steamfitting, sprinklerfitting and plumbing. UAPICBC is also designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch.

(flickr.com)

Scott Hamilton, MLA for Delta North –

“B.C. is expecting almost one million job openings by 2025, and apprentices and their training providers are a valuable part of filling this labour gap. By partnering with training providers like UA Piping Industry College of B.C., we will continue to give British Columbians the skills training they need to find jobs right here in Delta.” 

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“There is growing interest in trade careers across the province and the investment announced today will ensure British Columbians have the opportunity to access training in high-priority trades so that they are equipped with the right skills to respond to the job opportunities to come.”

Al Phillips, executive director, UA Piping Industry College of B.C. –

“The B.C. government’s commitment and investment through the ITA provides funding for students who are training for in-demand trades that UAPICBC specializes in: steamfitting, welding, plumbing and sprinklerfitting. As the demand for these trades continues to grow in B.C., particularly with emerging industries, this funding is significant as it assists us in providing apprentices with the skills they need to contribute to B.C.’s growing economy. We look forward to training our future journeypersons and providing them the opportunity for a rewarding career in the piping trades.”

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.
• B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2025 due to retirements and economic growth.
• Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

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

B.C. Labour Market Outlook: www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx