Tuesday, 14 March 2023 08:50 AM
Partnerships
Empowering Communities Through Skills Development: Unlocking potential and building futures through partnership and skills development in the trades.
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 14, 2023 / Skills Council of Canada is proud to announce a partnership with Building Up, Toronto's Social Contractor, to address the increasing shortage of skilled trades and labor in the province and provide education and skills development opportunities for people from low-income communities.
As part of their project ‘Breaking Down Barriers - Skills-To-Employment Collaborative Support Ecosystem (CSE)', Skills Council of Canada works with community-focused organizations to provide individualized skills training and support to job seekers, increasing the pool of skilled workers available to fill trades positions and supporting communities across the province. This partnership with Building Up extends its support to include essential skills and soft skills development, job-based assessments, access to tutoring and mentor support, as well as employment resources and connections to employers for individuals who have successfully graduated from Building Up's programming or who are waiting for enrollment.
"We were immediately impressed by what Marc and the team at Building Up have accomplished. Being able to support their holistic and community-focused initiatives is the kind of work we focus on. The organization offers a variety of programs and services, including trades training, youth apprenticeships, mentorship opportunities, and support for entrepreneurs. We are thrilled to be partnering with Building Up and supporting their amazing programming for years to come," said Kate O'Neil, Vice President of Partnerships, Skills Council of Canada.
Building Up is an organization that helps provide education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities to people from low-income communities, with a mission to support their clients to become socially and economically independent. The partnership with Skills Council of Canada marks a significant step forward in addressing the skills and labor needs of the province and providing education and skills development opportunities for people from equity-deserving groups.
"Building Up is focused on providing a deep level of support to our program participants and alumni as they aim to transition from trainees to tradespeople. That being said, this approach limits our ability to provide support to everyone we would like to. Having this partnership in place allows us to direct applicants to deep supports that are meaningful for them in their path to careers and personal stability." said Marc Soberano, Executive Director of BuildingUp.
Both organizations share a common goal to help those in vulnerable communities find meaningful employment through access to skills development resources. The collaboration between the Skills Council of Canada and Building Up provides a comprehensive solution for those seeking skills training and employment opportunities in the province.
The partnership between Skills Council of Canada and Building Up was created to give skills development opportunities to individuals who are not actively engaged with Building Up's programs, ensuring that no one is left behind and everyone has an equal opportunity to develop career ready skills. It is part of a larger effort to promote skills development, reduce inequality, and create sustainable communities in Canada.
About Skills Council of Canada
Skills Council of Canada, based in Ottawa, is a social impact-focused organization building holistic integrated solutions to support Canada's Sustainable Development Goals, with a prime focus on education-to-employment. Operating in collaboration with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, Skills Council of Canada promotes skills development for: good health/well-being, access to quality education and equal employment, gender equality, access to clean drinking water, affordable clean energy, decent work for economic growth, innovative technology ecosystems, infrastructure, reducing inequality, sustainable communities, and developing partnerships to support these efforts.
Skills Council of Canada's Collaborative Support Ecosystem (CSE) includes thousands of skills courses, job role assessments, access to one-on-one mentors, tutors, career counseling, wellness coaches, and more, all managed on its robust learning management system. The CSE program also enables Skills Council of Canada to provide its entire offering for free to all participants and partners.
For more information, visit: https://www.skillscouncil.ca/
About Building Up
Building Up, based in Toronto, was developed to improve the city's environmental efficiency, affordable housing stock, and to create a pathway for individuals experiencing barriers to enter apprenticeships and careers in the trades. Building Up connects housing providers with work that needs to be done in their buildings to the people in their buildings who need the work, helps construction unions meet their need for skilled labor by supplying them with individuals from the community looking for sustainable careers, and links business needs to community needs.
For more information, visit: https://www.buildingup.ca/
For all inquiries, please direct to: [email protected]
SOURCE: Skills Council of Canada