Successful SkillsPlus Program Expanded with $2-million
VICTORIA– An additional $2 million investment to deliver skills training will give businesses in British Columbia more resources to enhance employee skills, said Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
“Now more than ever we need to provide support to businesses for the essential skills training employers need,” said Stilwell. “Expanding SkillsPlus to include mid-sized businesses will increase the number of people we can help build their essential skills and in turn increase productivity to move us through these economic times.”
A request for proposals (RFP) posted today on B.C. Bid will expand the SkillsPlus program to include businesses with 50 to 500 employees. Ideal proponents will be a partnership of business and skills training service providers, building on the SkillsPlus model that blends essential skills into typical on-the-job training.
“Our Government believes in helping Canadians have access to the tools that they need to contribute to the Canadian economy," said the Honourable Diane Finley, federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Through our Labour Market Agreement with British Columbia, we are ensuring that all Canadians are job-ready and can get a job in these tough economic times.”
“Helping British Columbians improve their skills offers employers a tremendous advantage, particularly for small businesses,” said Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. “And small businesses have been very happy with the new skills their employees are receiving.”
Through the SkillsPlus program, additional training in essential skills such as computer use, reading and numeracy will be built into regular workplace-based training, enabling participants to benefit from a wider range of improved skills. Improving essential skills levels help employees deal with more complex tasks, expanding their abilities and improving productivity.
The B.C. government, working with education and training organizations, industry and other partners is enabling British Columbians to gain the skills needed to successfully participate in our provincial labour market, and respond positively to changing workplace demands.
Under the LMA, the Government of Canada is providing the Province approximately $66 million annually until 2013/14. Through a variety of programs, these funds will increase training for employed individuals who are low-skilled and require essential skills, or who require recognized credentials to reach their full potential in the current marketplace. They will also help increase access to training for unemployed individuals who are not currently Employment Insurance (EI) clients including but not limited to those who are underrepresented in the labour.
