Email icon Back to Search
two photos of workers on a construction site and in a warehouse

About the Program

The SkillsAdvance Ontario (SAO) pilot project is intended to support workforce development in identified key growth sectors.

It funds partnerships that connect employers with the employment and training services required to recruit and advance workers with the right essential, technical, and employability skills. It also supports jobseekers to obtain employment by providing them with sector-specific employment and training services, and connecting them to the right employers.

SkillsAdvance Ontario embodies a sector-focused strategy that takes into consideration the dynamic nature of regional economies and labour markets, as well as the evolving requirements of different industrial sectors. SkillsAdvance Ontario projects provide the ministry the opportunity to test the effectiveness and efficiencies of sector-focused, partnership-based programming.

Locally, SkillsAdvance programming is offered by two community organizations - Brant Employment Centre – St. Leonard’s Community Services and the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie (WPBGE).

Construct Your Career

The Brant Employment Centre – St. Leonard’s Community Services is offering “Construct Your Career”, a skills development program to assist individuals in pursuing a career in the construction industry. Participants in the program receive industry-recognized training from Conestoga in Carpentry, Blue-print reading, Electrical and plumbing, as well as receive certificates in First Aid and Working at Heights, Employers who provide a 2 to 4-week job placement for participants can receive $1000 dollars to off-set the costs of training a new employee.

Eligibility Criteria for Employers:

  • Be licensed to operate in Ontario
  • Comply with all applicable legislation including federal/provincial human rights legislation, regulations, and any other relevant standards, occupational health and safety act, employment standards act, freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation
  • Provide employment in Ontario
  • Maintain appropriate W.S.I.B. or alternate workplace safety insurance coverage and have adequate third-party general liability insurance as advised by its insurance broker
  • Not use placement services to replace existing or laid-off employees

For more information on how to participate in the “Construct Your Carrer” programs, please contact Lindy Bancroft, Supervisor, at lbancroft@st-leonards.com  or 519-756-7665. 

Alternatively, details about the program are available from in the news release from the Province of Ontario.

Warehousing and Logistics

For the past 2 years, the WPBGE has been offering the Connect2SKILLS Warehousing and Logistics program. Participants get hands-on training and certifications in Forklift/Reach Truck, Fall Arrest, CPR and First Aid, followed by job placements with local employers. In September, the program will be adding a manufacturing component and will be rebranded as Skills2Advance Manufacturing-Warehousing.

For more information on how to participate as an employer, please email skills2advance@workforceplanningboard.org, call 519-756-1116 x 223 or visit www.skills2advance.com.