Carpenters receive $37M to support first-year apprentices
The funds will provide small and medium enterprises with apprenticeship support.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) one of North America’s largest building trades unions, with over a half-million members. – UBC
Key Takeaways:
- The funds will go towards small and medium businesses who want to hire first-year apprentices.
- Extra support will be given for equity deserving groups.
- The funding will target construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades.
The Whole Story:
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters Canadian District (UBC) has received $37 million in funding to support employers hiring first-year apprentices.
This program will assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with hiring new, first-year apprentices in the skilled trades and provide extra support for employers to assist apprentices from equity deserving groups.
“As the demand for skilled trade workers outpace the need in our country, it’s critical that we do everything we can to recruit and retain the next generation,” said Jason Rowe. “The UBC is working hard to eliminate barriers and provide an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace for all Canadians. This program supports small businesses by equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to help apprentices succeed.”
UBC explained that the funding is critical as many SMEs do not have the resources to offer apprenticeship training opportunities. The two-year, $37-million program funded by the government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service to provide support to SMEs in Canadian construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades to help them to hire new, first-year apprentices.
The funding enables SMEs to hire up to two new first-year apprentices per year. Under the program, SMEs can receive up to $5,000 for every new first year apprentice they hire and an additional $5,000 if that apprentice identifies as a person from an equity deserving group such as women, Indigenous people, newcomers, persons with disabilities, including LGBTQ2 and Black communities.
In addition to financial supports, the program provides assistance to help employers navigate the apprenticeship system, onboard new apprentices and set up the appropriate workplace training via a digital toolkit that can be found on their website at ubc-asp.ca.
The UBC Canadian District Apprenticeship Service program partners with the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) to offer Be More Than a Bystander training to SMEs that sign up for the program. The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) is a provincial association based in Vancouver. They train and support close to 300 anti-violence programs and cross-sector initiatives across the province.
