FIT V@ NCOUVER
Fast Track to Information
Technology in Vancouver
Imagine being able to access a source of IT
employees where the candidates are prepared
specifically to enter your workplace.
They know your products and customers, and
they’re trained on your equipment and
software. They come into your office equipped
with the hard and the soft skills to be
productive members of your employee team.
FIT V@ncouver is preparing to offer this
service to employers in Vancouver.
FIT V@ ncouver invites you to HOW
Using a partnership of employers,
join this unique community community-based service providers,
partnership where industry, educators, and government FIT V@ncouver
offers an integrated, person focused
trainers, educators, and approach to bringing the long-term
government work together unemployed into the workforce. The initial
targeted employment sector is in
to create sustainable information technology, an area that
employment for the continues to grow across the Lower
Mainland, and an area that is now an
long-term unemployed. essential element for almost any prospect
for employment.
Employment readiness, training and
WHY
education programs need to be structured
The need to bring the long-term
in such a way that there is a managed and
unemployed into the labour market is a
accommodating path of progression
community-wide challenge that requires
between the form and levels of training.
“As employers we an innovative and creative response. FIT is
This will better enable “graduates” to
see the benefits of a program that focuses on getting people
secure long-term, well-paid employment
working with into real and productive jobs. The current
and help end the frequent “recycling” of
community programs do work for some, but obviously
the unemployed through the system.
training partners the programs are not effective for many
to bring the long- people, especially the long-term The progression path we envision includes
term unemployed unemployed or people who face multiple these steps:
into the labour barriers to re-entry into the labour market.
1. A transition to an employment training
market — from
Over the past year a FIT V@ncouver program (ie, a pre-training program)
our fiscal bottom
working group brought together their that is flexible—the amount of time one
line we see the
experience, examined the current policies spends in the program (for some this
quality and
and programs and determined that a fresh may be two weeks and for others over a
readiness of the
approach to address unemployment issues year)—and the particular program
new employees we
is necessary. If we continue to apply the content is based on the needs of the
get, and from our
same models and methods, how can we individual. Assessment testing (of up to
social bottom line,
expect different results? two months) would be an integral part
working together to
of this program to ensure that people
change the capacity FIT V@ncouver proposes an employment
are referred to skills training that suit
of the unemployed, preparation program and skill development
their aptitudes and interests.
the community system that has a proven and effective
becomes a better record. A process that serves: 2. Industry, service provider, and
place for all of us.” • the needs of the individual seeking governmental advisory boards would be
— Jaime Galvez, Telus re-entry into the labour market, developed to ensure that skills training
Enterprise Solutions • the needs of their employers, and programs are designed in response to
Inc. • the social and economic goals of industry shortages.
government.
3. Employment skills training programs
FIT’s initial assessment process, referral would be developed and delivered in
network and commitment to leave no one collaboration with industry and
behind will insure that everyone seeking employers. These programs could last
support will be included. up to nine months in duration.
4. Following graduation from skills COMMUNITY BENEFITS
training programs, each participant The FIT V@ncouver model serves the
would be provided with opportunities entire community:
that may include internships,
• For industry the partnership and
predetermined job placements, or job
investment produces trained, ready-to-
search assistance. A key aspect of this
work employees who meet their
point of the process is the inclusion of
identified IT skill needs. The employee
post-employment support.
is not only prepared to join their team
Working with industry leaders TELUS, with hard skills, but also with “soft
Microsoft and others, FIT V@ncouver can skills” and work environment
prepare and train individuals to serve the experience, such as working in a team.
needs of the industry partners. The employer saves on the costs of
search, internal training, and post-
Although initially targeting information
employment adjustment.
technology, FIT V@ncouver will evolve to
include other trades and employment • For government the investment in FIT
paths to match the needs of employers V@ncouver training produces an
with prepared-for-employment, trained assured return. Every person who is
employees. trained, and ultimately employed, “If we really want
moves off income assistance programs to be effective we
The FIT V@ncouver program brings
and enters into the tax revenue base. need to stretch the
together a group of experienced educators
The trained person is removed from the boundaries of how
and community-based skill development
expense side and moved to the taxpayer, we tackle the
partners: Vancouver Community College,
income, side of the government balance training for
Simon Fraser University, Tradeworks
sheet. re-entry into
Training Society, Vancouver Eastside
employment for
Educational Enrichment Society, and • For the unemployed person the direct
the long term
Britannia Community Education Program. return for participation is fulfillment in
unemployed. Their
their future through successful
needs go beyond
Built on a successful model employment, which leads to dignity and
merely technical
FIT Ireland is the inspiration for the self-reliance, and becoming a healthy
skills development.”
Vancouver program. In 1998, FIT Ireland member of the community.
initiated an innovative concept—the — Hendrik Hoekema,
Executive Director,
training of long-term unemployed people
Vancouver Eastside
for a full-time career in the IT sector. With OPPORTUNITIES TO Educational
the active cooperation of local government, PARTICIPATE Enrichment Society
IT companies and community-based
Employers: For interested industry
training providers, FIT Ireland has
partners we invite you to join our
graduated 1,400 people and provided Irish
participating corporate partners to design
communities with previously-high levels of
the training that will meet your needs.
long-term unemployment the opportunity
to prosper. Funders: Support this valuable
community/corporate/government
partnership that addresses the needs of the
To see a sample of our
first steps toward long-term unemployed in real and
developing our pilot productive ways. Contact us to discuss
projects, please visit www.tradeworks.bc.ca options for contributing to the program
You’ll see information on the Computer through financial, in-kind, and donated
Hardware Support Program, a equipment.
Tradeworks and Vancouver Community
College partnership project.
A study released in BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORKING GROUP
November 2001 by Jaime Galvez, Telus Enterprise Debbie Bell, Simon Fraser University
the Vancouver Solutions Inc. Ken Armour, Human Resources
Economic Barbara Alexander, Regional Sales Development Canada
Development Manager, Microsoft Canada Dana Beatson, Human Resources
Commission Charles Wordsworth, National President Development Canada
indicates that Elect, Canadian Information Processing Barry Lagerstrom, Human Resources
information Society (CIPS) Development Canada
technology firms Hendrik Hoekema, Executive Director, Andrew Bell, BC Ministry of Human
are still optimistic Vancouver Eastside Educational Resources
about prospects for Enrichment Society Patricia Mettrick, BC Ministry of Human
growth and hiring Resources
over the near term, Ex-officio Mary Waddington, Vancouver Community
despite the recent Isobel Donovan, Regional Executive College
downturn in the Officer, Vancouver Region, BC Ministry Enzo Guerriero, Britannia Community
economy. of Human Resources Services Centre
Al Thiessen, Director, Human Resource Steve Lindmayer, Vancouver Economic
IT firms predict
Centre—Burnaby, Human Resources Development Commission
their workforce will
Development Canada Bob Gilson, Tradeworks Training Society
increase by 31%,
Hendrik Hoekema, Vancouver Eastside
and non-IT firms
Educational Enrichment Society
predict that their
Dominic Main, Vancouver Eastside
need for IT workers
Educational Enrichment Society
will increase by 8%
Bob Macdonald, Simon Fraser University
over the next two to
David LePage, Executive Director, FIT
three years.
V@ncouver
Source:
www.fwco.com/IT/
report.html
Photos: participants FIT V@NCOUVER
in the Computer Community Education Programs
Hardware Support Continuing Studies
Program, a Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre
Tradeworks and
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver
Community College Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3
partnership project.
For more information: Telephone 604-268-7896
www.tradeworks.bc.ca Fax 604-291-5238
E-mail dlepage@vancouverbc.net
DECEMBER 2001