Blueprint 1-Year Update
B.C.’s Blueprint continues to make sure that British Columbians are first in line for
the careers of tomorrow. With 1 million jobs on the horizon, driven by retirements
and economic growth, we are making sure our education and training system is
responsive to the needs of our changing economy.
A HEAD-START TO
HANDS-ON LEARNING
IN OUR SCHOOLS
1
If you’re in elementary, middle
or high school, we want to
give you an earlier headstart to hands-on learning so
you’re ready for the workforce
or more advanced training
when you graduate.
Doubling the number of ACE-IT and other apprenticeship program seats to 5,000 over the next
two years
§§ Career co-ordinators, or “shoulder tappers,” are in 11 northern B.C. school districts to ensure students have equal
access to skills programs and are aware of opportunities. This includes an outreach to Aboriginal youth.
§§ A second ACE-IT intake for the 2014/15 school year was implemented.
§§ $10.5M has been provided through Education Plan support funding to districts to support skills and reading.
§§ The Ministry of Education and the Industry Training Authority (ITA) completed a review of the youth apprenticeship
training program. Recommendations like registering students in the youth apprenticeship program as soon as they
take a Skills Exploration 10-12 course are being considered.
§§ Twenty-six school districts have been granted $5,000 each to help students in rural communities across B.C. access
skills and trades training.
Expand WorkBC website and web tools to focus on youth
§§ Launched Top 10 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) careers section, Top Occupations section, www.workbc.ca/trades,
www.workbc.ca/workinbc and Canada Job Grant sections.
§§ Launched My Blueprint Builder – a new online resource to help users explore careers, access education and
funding, and find a job. Over 13,000 personalized Blueprints have been created to date. It includes the following
two new tools:
§§ Launched the Apprentice Job Match tool to connect B.C. apprentices looking for on-the-job experience with
employers looking to hire.
§§ Launched the Career Compass tool to help users discover a career path by assessing preferences, find careers
matching their profile and discover in-demand jobs in specific regions.
Expanding dual credits in our schools to get students trained more quickly
§§ Most of the Blueprint progress has led to increased dual credit options, including the Career and Skills Toolkit.
§§ The ITA provided 26 school districts with a share of $770,000 to support Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA)
programs this school year.
Encouraging partnerships
§§ The Superintendent for Careers and Students Transitions, Larry Espe, and the Ministry of Education created a list of
vacant schools to potentially house partnerships.
§§ The Career and Skills Toolkit has been launched to help schools and districts set up career and skills training
programs or improve an existing one.
§§ The Ministry of Education is in partnership with the Tech industry, post-secondary institutions, and school districts
to develop an initiative to promote digital literacy, computational thinking, and opportunities for students to learn
how to write computer code.
Reforming grade 10-12 grad requirements to allow personalized grad plans
§§ Graduation program policies have been changed to provide more flexibility for skills training courses and credits.
§§ Skills Exploration 10-12 course is complete and allows students to experience a variety of skilled trades while
earning credit towards secondary school graduation.
Suggest making it faster and easier for qualified (Red Seal) tradespersons to earn
teaching certificates
§§ The BC Teachers Council developed a discussion paper and received advice from stakeholders regarding options
for providing teacher training programs for Red Seal holders.
Raise awareness on full range of options
§§ The summer 2014 edition of Learn Magazine featured Project-based learning turns a forest into a classroom.
§§ The Trades Program Finder tool was launched on LearnNowBC to help students find ACE-IT programs in schools
and districts.
§§ Career Zone: Mining, Energy and Information and communication technology sectors is available for review. Career
Zones are a group of courses, certifications, and work opportunities that B.C. high schools can develop to help
grades 11 and 12 students move into a career within a particular industry while still meeting the provincial
requirements for graduation.
§§ The Ministry of Education helps organize schools districts to participate and support WorkBC’s Find your Fit and
LNG energy seminars.
§§ The Ministry of Education partnered with the BC Lions and Pacific NorthWest LNG to bring 122 students from
across B.C. to attend the BC Lions’ Skills for Life event, which included WorkBC’s Find Your Fit.
§§ The Lions in the House program went to over 20 middle schools and discussed career opportunities in trades.
§§ Launched ITA’s “What are you Made of” – an interactive webpage for youth to discover what trades would be most
suitable for them, how much they would earn and where best in B.C. to find a job.
Inform and engage parents, teachers and counsellors
§§ The Ministry of Education presented at many 2014 partner conferences, including the BC Association of School
Business Officials conference and the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils annual general meeting.
§§ The Focus on Skills newsletter is sent regularly to approximately 500 stakeholders and features tools and
information for educators to help students find their fit.
Involve education-sector leaders in a skills outreach strategy
§§ The Ministry of Education presented to the BC School Superintendents Association conference August 23, 2014.
§§ The Superintendent for Careers and Students Transitions, Larry Espe, has delivered dozens of presentations to
school communities on opening pathways for students through hands-on learning.
§§ An advising service to help districts develop skills and training programs has been piloted and will be expanded.
#FINDYOURFIT
PLEASE VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WORKBC.CA/SKILLS
Blueprint 1-Year Update
B.C.’s Blueprint continues to make sure that British Columbians are first in line for
the careers of tomorrow. With 1 million jobs on the horizon, driven by retirements
and economic growth, we are making sure our education and training system is
responsive to the needs of our changing economy.
A SHIFT IN EDUCATION AND
TRAINING TO BETTER MATCH
WITH JOBS IN DEMAND
2
If you’re in a college, university
or institute, or are thinking
about attending, we’re
matching training with jobs in
demand, and maximizing the
spaces available to provide the
programs you need to compete
successfully in the workforce.
Using student financial aid to support labour market needs and priorities (target student aid grants
to support occupations that are in high demand)
§§ The BC Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities provides up to $16,400 for students with financial need to study
in-demand trades at eligible public post-secondary institutions. Students may receive funds to relocate for training
and for tools.
§§ The new BC Completion Grant for Graduates provides $500 to students who complete post-secondary programs
that support the top 60 list of occupations such as mechanical engineering, public health, business administration,
and design and applied arts.
§§ The expanded BC Loan Forgiveness Program helps attract health professionals to work in difficult-to-fill vacancies
in underserved communities, and now includes additional eligible occupations, with an extended work
commitment from three years to five.
Re-engineering operating grants to support high-demand occupations
§§ $40M of the public post-secondary institutions’ 2014/15 operating grant is aligned with programs that support
high-demand occupations. This will increase by $90M in 2015/16.
Providing more funding for trades training seats
§§ $6.8M for critical trades seats put into action July 2014. Wait times have been reduced by an average of
eight months.
§§ $192,000 to fund 64 new critical trades training seats for the Cariboo region in October 2014.
Programs for persons with disabilities
§§ $1.5M to improve access to, and success in, technical and trades training at 20 institutions. Programs started
running in June 2014.
§§ As part of Accessibility 2024, the Province is implementing a new $3M assistive technology program called
Technology at Work to help people with disabilities gain meaningful employment.
Labour market programs for youth
§§ Invested $4.3M for at-risk youth aged 15-30 years through Bladerunners program.
§§ Invested over $10M in 45 targeted training projects across the province to support youth and other underrepresented groups to receive training and work qualification certificates.
Engaging Aboriginal youth and focusing on their needs
§§ Up to $7.4M in federal and provincial funding for Aboriginal community-based skills programming to support more
than 545 Aboriginal people get skills for jobs.
§§ $1M for the Aboriginal Training for Employment Program to help more than 140 Aboriginal people prepare
for employment.
§§ An inventory of skills training programs has been developed and posted on the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations
and Reconciliation’s website.
§§ Three skills training/employment info forums have been given.
§§ Some research has been published on supporting skills training.
§§ Supporting six regional aggregated groupings of First Nation communities (representing over 45 communities)
impacted by LNG in the development of community-based skills training plans.
§§ Announced up to $30M over the next three years to support implementation of the short, medium and long-term
skills training initiatives identified by Aboriginal communities through the community-based plans noted above.
§§ Worked with the federal government to secure $3.5M of federal funding over the next three years to hire seven
community-based Aboriginal workforce navigators in First Nation communities impacted by LNG.
Finding training spaces
§§ Launched the trades seat finder. You can now find out where seats are available online.
Increasing our investment in infrastructure and equipment for skills and trades training
§§ Construction is underway on Okanagan College’s $33M trades renewal and expansion.
§§ Construction is underway on Camosun College’s $30M Trades Education and Innovation Complex.
§§ Opened the $16.5M Motive Power Centre of Excellence at Annacis Island.
§§ Announced $1.5M for a new trades building at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology to open in 2016.
§§ Announced $4.4M for new trades’ equipment at 14 public post-secondary institutions throughout the province.
#FINDYOURFIT
PLEASE VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WORKBC.CA/SKILLS
Blueprint 1-Year Update
B.C.’s Blueprint continues to make sure that British Columbians are first in line for
the careers of tomorrow. With 1 million jobs on the horizon, driven by retirements
and economic growth, we are making sure our education and training system is
responsive to the needs of our changing economy.
Getting and using better data to drive decisions
A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP
WITH INDUSTRY AND LABOUR
TO DELIVER TRAINING
AND APPRENTICESHIPS
3
If you’re looking to move into
or up in the workplace, we’re
building stronger partnerships
with industry and labour to
better connect you with the onthe-job and classroom training
you’ll need to boost your skills
or achieve certification.
§§ Unified cross-government decision-making with funding allocated based on demand through the formation of a
Labour Market Priorities Board.
§§ Published the LNG workforce projections report.
§§ Released the British Columbia 2022 Labour Market Outlook that forecast 985,100 job openings, provided regional
analyses of in-demand jobs and the top 60 in-demand occupations.
§§ WorkBC.ca is updated every month with the latest B.C. employment data from the Labour Force Survey.
Refocusing the ITA
§§ Reconstituted the ITA board of directors and appointed the CEO.
§§ Developed and implemented an ITA 90-Day Transition Plan.
§§ Targeted $3.7M Learner Demand Fund to priority apprenticeship training.
Increasing employer sponsors for apprenticeships
§§ Hired six Industry Relations positions at the ITA to engage industry on apprenticeship and skills training.
§§ Launched the Apprentice Job Match tool.
Developing innovative solutions to make trades training work better
§§ Held Regional Trades Training consultations in Nanaimo and Fort St. John, which brought together industry and
training providers to share ideas and expand partnerships.
Investing in connecting youth with the workplace
§§ Invested over $0.7M through the Labour Market Partnership Program for youth-related projects that attract
students to trades and technical careers.
§§ Launched WorkBC.ca page for youth to access apprenticeship supports/grants/credits.
§§ Launched My Blueprint Builder.
§§ Created “Find Your Fit” – an interactive program that introduces students, parents and teachers to labour market
information and tools. To-date, it has visited 27 communities reaching over 46,000 people.
§§ Connected with over 10,000 Canada Winter Games visitors through the Northern BC Career Zone - a booth that
shared info from WorkBC.ca and the ITA, and featured Find Your Fit.
Preparing and matching British Columbians with jobs
§§ The Employment Program of BC continues to provide a range of pre-employment supports tailored to
individual needs.
§§ In fiscal year 2014/15, the program served more than 110,000 clients, of whom 93,000 clients received tailored
employment supports and services.
§§ More than $7M has been spent this fiscal year on apprentice financial support, assisting nearly 12,000
apprentices.
§§ $26M has been invested in other non-apprentice related skills training, serving an additional 5,400 clients.
§§ 68,000 unique Specialized Population clients have been served in 2014/15, including 31,000 persons with
disabilities, 26,000 youth, and 12,000 Aboriginal people.
§§ Announced the Single Parent Employment Initiative which will support young parents on income assistance
to get the skills and experience they need to secure long-term employment. This includes providing skills
training to parents for in-demand jobs, increasing earning exemptions, and providing transition supports to
ease the return to the workforce.
§§ The Community Employer Partnership program continues to provide work-based training throughout B.C.
§§ This fiscal year, we are forecasted to spend nearly $5M on more than 50 community-driven projects. Letters of
Intent for future year projects total nearly $19M.
§§ Over 341 British Columbians have gained paid work experience or training based on these projects in 2014/15.
§§ A few notable projects started this year include:
ww Port Edward Historical Society North Pacific Cannery 125th Anniversary Conservation Project
• Job Creation Partnership project to prepare participants for emerging jobs in local areas relating to
LNG and heavy industry.
ww Rick Hansen Foundation Increasing BC Accessibility
• Job Creation Partnership project to provide work experience for participants as Accessibility Experts
and gain skills with computers, interviewing techniques, research, relationship management and
public speaking. Additional project objectives are to complete accessibility evaluations of physical
spaces in the lower mainland and to develop broader accessibility partnerships and awareness
across the province.
ww Voice of the Shuswap Preservation of the Wisdom of Mary Thomas
• Job Creation Partnership to provide work experience in the areas of: computer application, office
administration, communication/networking, website development, learning how to edit and create
new and updated digital materials to broadcast quality from existing previous versions in other
formats, skills in the use of current audio/visual tools and techniques and problem solving skills as
they relate to technical issues.
ww Treaty 8 Tribal Association Regional Development Study
• Labour Market Partnership with Treaty 8 Tribal Association to undertake a study that will help its
members take advantage of regional economic development opportunities, including LNG through
a five-year action plan.
Maximizing employer investment in Canada–BC Job Grant (up to $19M)
§§ Launched Canada-BC Job Grant, which provides employers a matching grant of up to $10,000 for employee
skills training. To date, almost 1,400 applications have been received with over 5,000 individuals expected to
receive training.
§§ Launched a Delivery Partner Program with 10 organizations available to help employers, particularly small
employers, assess employer skills needs and develop training plans, organize group-based training for multiple
employers, and complete grant applications.
#FINDYOURFIT
PLEASE VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WORKBC.CA/SKILLS
Blueprint 1-Year Update
B.C.’s Blueprint continues to make sure that British Columbians are first in line for
the careers of tomorrow. With 1 million jobs on the horizon, driven by retirements
and economic growth, we are making sure our education and training system is
responsive to the needs of our changing economy.
Formalizing the role for Sector Advisory Councils (renamed Sector Advisory Groups)
A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP
WITH INDUSTRY AND LABOUR
TO DELIVER TRAINING
AND APPRENTICESHIPS
3
§§ Formed 10 Sector Advisory Groups through the ITA.
§§ Moved the functions of the Industry Training Organizations into the ITA.
§§ ITA hired six Industry Relations positions to engage industry on apprenticeship and skills training.
Increasing the number of apprenticeships in high demand areas
§§ Targeted $10M in funding for training programs for women, immigrants and Aboriginal people.
§§ Invested nearly $500,000 for UA Piping Industry College to train 60 women in piping and construction
trades careers.
§§ Created and implemented the new Construction Craft Worker program, B.C.’s 48th Red Seal trade.
§§ Established the steering committee for the Aboriginal Construction Craft Worker program.
§§ Signed an apprenticeship mobility agreement with the province of New Brunswick.
§§ Extended the BC Training Tax Credit for an additional three years, providing refundable income tax credits for B.C.
apprentices and their employers. A full list of available financial supports is available on WorkBC.ca.
Improving apprenticeship completion rates
§§ Hired a Manager of Apprenticeship Completions at the ITA.
Hiring more Apprenticeship Advisors
§§ Hired 15 ITA Apprenticeship Advisors, including six Aboriginal subject matter experts.
Work in partnership with the Government of Canada
§§ Launched the Canada-BC Job Fund, which provides $65M per year to support skills and employment training
across the province.
§§ Received $3.3M in federal funding to increase the number of internationally trained skilled workers through Foreign
Qualifications Recognition (FQR).
§§ Completed a review of barriers to FQR in the LNG sector.
§§ Co-chairing the Pan-Canadian Apprenticeship Mobility initiative to increase apprentice mobility.
#FINDYOURFIT
PLEASE VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WORKBC.CA/SKILLS