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Supporting Canadian Skills-to-Employment

    Skills Council of Canada and Building Up Collaborate to Expand Opportunitiesfor Low-Income Communities

    Unlocking potential and building futures throughpartnership and skills development in the trades.

    Skills Council of Canada is proud to announce a partnership with Building Up, Toronto's Social Contractor,to address the increasing shortage of skilled trades and labor in the provinceand provide education and skills development opportunities for people fromlow-income communities.

    As part of their project ‘Breaking Down Barriers –Skills-To-Employment Collaborative Support Ecosystem (CSE)', Skills Council ofCanada works with community-focused organizations to provide individualizedskills training and support to job seekers, increasing the pool of skilledworkers available to fill trades positions and supporting communities acrossthe province. This partnership with Building Up extends its support to includeessential skills and soft skills development, job-based assessments, access totutoring and mentor support, as well as employment resources and connections toemployers for individuals who have successfully graduated from Building Up’sprogramming or who are waiting for enrollment.

    "We were immediately impressed by what Marc andthe team at Building Up have accomplished. Being able to support their holisticand community-focused initiatives is the kind of work we focus on. Theorganization offers a variety of programs and services, including tradestraining, youth apprenticeships, mentorship opportunities, and support forentrepreneurs. We are thrilled to be partnering with Building Up and supportingtheir amazing programming for years to come," said Kate O’Neil, VicePresident of Partnerships, Skills Council of Canada.

    Building Up is an organization that helps provideeducation, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities to people fromlow-income communities, with a mission to support their clients to become sociallyand economically independent. The partnership with Skills Council of Canadamarks a significant step forward in addressing the skills and labor needs ofthe province and providing education and skills development opportunities forpeople from equity-deserving groups.

    “Building Up is focused on providing a deep level ofsupport to our program participants and alumni as they aim to transition fromtrainees to tradespeople. That being said, this approach limits our ability toprovide support to everyone we would like to. Having this partnership in placeallows us to direct applicants to deep supports that are meaningful for them intheir path to careers and personal stability.” said Marc Soberano, ExecutiveDirector of BuildingUp.

    Both organizations share a common goal to help thosein vulnerable communities find meaningful employment through access to skillsdevelopment resources. The collaboration between the Skills Council of Canadaand Building Up provides a comprehensive solution for those seeking skillstraining and employment opportunities in the province.

    The partnership between Skills Council of Canada andBuilding Up was created to give skills development opportunities to individualswho are not actively engaged with Building Up's programs, ensuring that no oneis left behind and everyone has an equal opportunity to develop career readyskills. It is part of a larger effort to promote skills development, reduceinequality, and create sustainable communities in Canada.

    About Skills Council of Canada

    Skills Council of Canada, based in Ottawa, is asocial impact-focused organization building holistic integrated solutions tosupport Canada's Sustainable Development Goals, with a prime focus oneducation-to-employment. Operating in collaboration with Indigenous and non-Indigenousorganizations, Skills Council of Canada promotes skills development for: goodhealth/well-being, access to quality education and equal employment, genderequality, access to clean drinking water, affordable clean energy, decent workfor economic growth, innovative technology ecosystems, infrastructure, reducinginequality, sustainable communities, and developing partnerships to supportthese efforts.

    Skills Council of Canada's Collaborative SupportEcosystem (CSE) includes thousands of skills courses, job role assessments,access to one-on-one mentors, tutors, career counseling, wellness coaches, andmore, all managed on its robust learning management system. The CSE programalso enables Skills Council of Canada to provide its entire offering for freeto all participants and partners.

    About Building Up

    Building Up, based in Toronto, was developed toimprove the city's environmental efficiency, affordable housing stock, and tocreate a pathway for individuals experiencing barriers to enter apprenticeshipsand careers in the trades. Building Up connects housing providers with workthat needs to be done in their buildings to the people in their buildings whoneed the work, helps construction unions meet their need for skilled labor bysupplying them with individuals from the community looking for sustainablecareers, and links business needs to community needs.

    For more information, visit: www.buildingup.ca

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