A new trades training partnership in Kitimat
By Contributor
A new trades training partnership in Northwest B.C. will allow 37 unemployed young adults to access, for the first time ever, a piping trades foundation course, giving them an opportunity to acquire skills that are in high demand in that region.
Through a Labour Market Sector Solutions agreement with the Piping Industry Apprenticeship Board (DBA the UA Piping Industry College of B.C.), the piping trades exploratory and foundational training program will lead to level one certification in one of the following piping trades:
- Welding.
- Plumbing.
- Steam-fitting.
- Sprinkler-fitting.
A shortage of skilled workers in the region is anticipated due to growth and investment in the natural gas, oil and other energy sectors throughout this region.
This program will go a long way in helping to support industry need for skilled workers and will give youth in the region an opportunity to train for a career in the trades, while staying close to their home community.
Participants will be trained at the UA Piping Industry College of B.C. with a majority of the training taking place on location at the recently opened Kitimat satellite campus.
They will take a six-week exploratory program, which will allow participants to make a career choice within the piping trades. From there, they will be assessed and referred to either the foundation program or technical training.
Participants must be Labour Market Agreement eligible – meaning they are unemployed, non-Employment Insurance individuals, or are employed, low-skilled individuals. The training program is expected to wrap-up in March, 2014.
The Northern Piping Trades Skills Development Project is supported by nearly $500,000 in funding through the Canada – British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.
