Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology Training Grant

Grants are available to Ontario, Canada non-profits, community colleges, and others to provide job training programs for low-income, unemployed or underemployed women, who are high school graduates, to work in a skilled trade or in the information technology field. Eligible programs must provide gender-sensitive in-class training and on-the-job training.

The Skilled Trades stream provides pre-apprenticeship training geared towards increasing the number of women in skilled trades. Following graduation, women are qualified to enter a variety of high-demand skilled trades jobs and apprenticeships.

The Information Technology stream enables women to secure employment, further training and certification in the IT sector, or to enter IT apprenticeship programs. As a result of this initiative, women are prepared for well-paying employment in the information technology sector, and employers are able to recruit and retain more skilled workers.

Training programs must integrate the following elements:

• Skills-based employment training in either a skilled trade or information technology field.

• Skills training that incorporates employability and workplace preparation (e.g. job search and interview skills, employment standards, human rights and workplace safety, workplace tours, workplace culture preparedness etc.). This training should provide the particular supports women need to access and succeed in training and the work place and prepare them to meet employer expectations. Training must also provide skills to address gender sensitivity and cultural awareness.

• Educational activities for partners such as employers and training institutions to promote a positive work and learning environment for women. The proposal must demonstrate that work placements and training environments are appropriate for female trainees and that there are policies in place to address issues of harassment.

• Paid work placements provided through a partnership between the training institution and employers. Employers offering positions in targeted entry level skilled trades or IT jobs must participate in the design and implementation of the work-based component. If a paid placement is not possible, an option for volunteer placement must be provided.

• Services to help participants find and maintain suitable employment (e.g. job search, job placement, employment counseling).

• Referrals for further education and training.

• Assistance to remove barriers to training for program participation (e.g. childcare, travel, food on-site, accessibility for women with disabilities).

• Opportunities for peer support and to help participants develop a network supportive of their goals.

• Recognition of achievements (e.g. pre-apprenticeship certification, certificate indicating courses completed, graduation).

• Some programs may also include academic upgrading required by participants to attain the minimum academic requirements for the area of study or academic skills required for successful completion of their program.