Selkirk College Trades Programs Benefit from Province’s LNG Funding
By Bob Hall
As part of British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, Selkirk College will receive funding for an additional 54 training spaces to increase access and help reduce waitlists for trades critical to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other industries.
The allocation is part of the $6.8 million announced earlier this week to create 1,424 foundation and apprenticeship seats at 14 public post-secondary institutions throughout British Columbia.
Selkirk College will receive a total of $245,000 including $214,000 for the additional seats that will be available to students as early as this September and $31,000 in operating and equipment funding to support delivery of training programs.
“We really appreciate this support from government to expand our training seats for rewarding career pathways that are in demand and in programs that students want,” says Selkirk College President Angus Graeme. “We will be able to address a number of our waitlists and prepare students sooner for some excellent job opportunities in BC.”
Selkirk College’s trades programs take place at Nelson’s Silver King Campus. Additional seats include 18 welder foundation seats, 16 electrician foundation seats and 20 carpenter apprenticeship seats.
The provincial government announced an initial $6.6-million for critical trades seats as part of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint. Funding allocations are based on the most recent labour market data, on consultations with institutions, the Industry Training Authority, and the province’s Labour Market Priorities Board, and current waitlists, institutions’ capacity to add training seats.
“We promised to increase access to critical trades training seats for in-demand jobs and we are delivering on our commitment to ensure we have a skilled workforce,” says Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk. “Throughout British Columbia, we are re-engineering education and training to turn learners into earners.”
A million job openings are expected in BC by 2022, with about 43 per cent requiring college education or apprenticeship training. BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint lays out a comprehensive action plan to re-engineer education and training so British Columbia students and workers have the skills to be first-in-line for jobs in a growing economy. More information on BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is available at the provincial government’s website: www.workbc.ca/skills
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