VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - June 03, 2015) - Over 400 tradespeople, apprentices, employers, and training providers from across the province attended BC's first annual Skilled Trades Innovation Forum yesterday. Held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the forum was jointly hosted by the Industry Training Authority (ITA) and the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training (JTST), to fulfill recommendations made in the B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, and the 2014 ITA mandate review.
The main goal of the forum is to create an annual event where stakeholders from the K-12 system, First Nations' communities, employers and training institutions can unite to share best practices and work together in developing innovative programs that break down barriers to accessing trades training. Through information gathered from the working sessions at the forum, a direct outcome of this year's event will be to publish an Apprenticeship and Trades Training Best Practices Guide and Innovation Resources ToolKit in fall 2015. This guide will help bolster the implementation of innovative new training practices and pilot projects.
The government released B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint one year ago, and committed to re-engineering education and training so every British Columbian can find their fit and be first in line for jobs. The Skilled Trades Innovation Forum used innovation as a theme to explore how the system can be refreshed and improved.
"I want to congratulate everyone on a successful Skilled Trades Innovation Forum," says Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour. "This Forum was an important event that brought our province's trades community together to share innovative ideas and best practices that will inform and help us align our skills training programs with sector needs."
"This year's forum was a wonderful first opportunity for the British Columbian skilled trades community to come together to build a more innovative and collaborative training system for the province's workforce," says Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority. "The learnings from this forum will guide us in supporting the trades training system to ensure we have the right people in the right place at the right time to support growing labour needs."
"The Skilled Trades Innovation Forum was a great opportunity to connect with others in the trades training system. As a business owner, it is important for me to grow my business through the recruitment and retention of skilled labour and one of the ways to do this is by supporting apprentices through their journey," says Rob Trampuh, President, Timber Peak Construction Ltd. "The Forum working groups, provided a great opportunity to share insights and learn from fellow employers, apprentices and training providers about what others are doing and what resources are available to us. I look forward to staying connected and sharing the best practices that are developed from this event."
About the Industry Training Authority
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads and coordinates British Columbia's skilled trades system. ITA works with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades. ITA is also a key collaborator in the B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, which sets out a plan for re-engineering our education and training system to support our growing and changing economy, and to help British Columbians take full advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes.
Hashtags: #tadesforum2015 #skills4bc #findyourfit
Breakout Session Backgrounder
Participants of the forum had the opportunity to attend three different working sessions to hear from panelists, successful case studies, discuss barriers and challenges, and provide input on the following topics:
- Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: Overcoming Barriers and Seizing Opportunities (Women, Aboriginal People, new Canadians)
- Essential Skills & Employability
- Mentorship & Succession Planning
- Trades Training Partnerships
- Regional Access: Taking Training to Apprentices
- Blending Old and New: Creative Approaches to Training
- Mobility of Apprentices and Skilled Workers
- Leveraging Technology to Improve Apprenticeship Experience
- Building Successful Apprenticeships: Three Models
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Contact Information:
For interviews or more information, please contact:
Susan Kirk
Director of Communications, ITA
Cell: 604.307.2122
Email: skirk@itabc.ca
Kyla Way
Edelman Vancouver
Cell: 604.613.6413
Email: kyla.way@edelman.com
