Connect 2 Skills is offering spots for residents of Grey Bruce to take part in the next construction training program in Wiarton.
Set to begin on Oct. 4, Executive Director for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board Gemma Mendez-Smith notes, through the first delivery of the program in Owen Sound during the summer, eight people were able to graduate and find employment.
The program is structured on a basis of providing three weeks of online learning and three weeks of in-person training with small cohorts of no more than 15 people.
Mendez-Smith notes during the online training segment of the program, participants will be speaking with a live instructor. The program will then shift into in-person classroom learning where Mendez-Smith notes they are aiming to give their participants a chance to get hands-on experience in the field. Topics like safety measures and various tools to be covered and practiced, with assistance from professionals.
She also adds they are currently looking at options for transportation to be able to bring people to the training site after the first three weeks, for the physical portion of the program.
“We just want to make sure that we are considering how we are going to get people from Owen Sound, Port Elgin, Saugeen Shores, and Saugeen First Nations to that training so we are looking at all the options for transportation. So if anyone is interested, they should be contacting us to see how they can get involved,” says Mendez-Smith.
With the next round of training, Mendez-Smith notes they are expanding partnerships to include local Indigenous communities and the Salvation Army in Wiarton, while still maintaining their relationship with Habitat for Humanity which assisted during the first round of the program.
Back at the end of July, the program worked with Habitat for Humanity to construct homes in Neyaashiinigmiing, and upon finishing, Habitat for Humanity was able to hire one participant immediately.
“We are hoping that we have an experience were we can still have a build day, I know we are going late into November, so I am not sure how that is going to work out but we are still hoping to have that experience says Mendez-Smith.
This is not the last chance to sign up for the program, Mendez-Smith notes that while the funding for the program is ending at the end of March, there are considerations to offer more training in January.
“Our program is only funded to Mach 31, so we want to get as many people through the training and connected to employers before that time runs out,” says Mendez-Smith.
Mendes-Smith does confirm however they will be seeking more funding to run the program again next year, but the decision is in the hands of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
“We know that our employers have many positions that need to be filled and they need a workforce in construction, so absolutely going through this program gives you the skills that you will need when you enter that labour market. You are not going to be entering with no experience, but a lot of good knowledge that the employers can use right away,” says Mendez-Smith.
More details about the free program can be found on the Connect 2 Skills website.