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Forget the tasselled hats, black gowns and formal speeches. Graduates from the latest One Journey:Work & Learn project were more comfortably attired as they celebrated their entry into the workforce with fellow graduates, trainers, coordinators and industry partners.
Carol Logan, human resources director at the Prince George Hotel, is one such
partner ready to welcome the new room attendants on board. She believes the One
Journey graduates, educated with communication and hospitality skills in addition to
on-the-job training, are ready to keep hotel rooms spotless and greet visitors with a
smile: “The employees have clear expectations of the position and are eager to
get started.”
The One Journey:Work & Learn program is a joint partnership between the
Departments of Education and Community Services that works with industries
and community groups to address skilled labour shortages. By providing
workers with special skills training and on-the-job learning, more people are
employed and fill skilled labour gaps.
Logan’s involvement with One Journey stems from her company’s earlier participation in the Department of Education’s Workplace Education program, which helps employees manage changing work requirements and upgrade skills. Impressed with the results and expertise of program staff, she readily partnered with One Journey in three projects since 2002.
“The relationship between our business and One Journey staff is a win-win
situation,” Logan explains. “We both want suitable candidates and have a
vested interest in the health of the industry. It’s great to partner with people
who share the same goals.”
Shortages of qualified workers continues to be a challenge for many industries,
including the hospitality sector. In December 2004, Halifax had the lowest
unemployment rate east of Quebec City. “It’s going to be more challenging
to find people,” Logan reflects. “One Journey adds diversity to our
workplace. It provides us with qualified people.”
Logan frequently cites shared goals and team support as One Journey’s
strengths. As an employer, she maintains the ability to interview and approve each
candidate for the position while having full support of the program. She also works
with facilitators to ensure candidates are specially trained to meet the
qualifications of positions.
Working in tandem with the community to find and develop qualified employees,
Logan’s department saves money on recruitment and orientation expenses. While
gaining prepared, qualified employees, she trims the cost of advertising and regular
training: “The One Journey employees are better prepared for work when they come
in than those we would normally recruit.”
Besides these immediate savings there are intangible benefits Logan can’t
put a price tag on. Working with government departments and community organizations,
her company is constantly networking and making better contacts within the community.
She believes these opportunities to network have been valuable to her company.
"Our involvement with One Journey has changed how we recruit," she says. "The
program provides a lot of contacts we have built relationships with. Now we receive
calls from job developers with referrals."
Most importantly, the One Journey: Work & Learn program has helped Logan's company
broaden its business beyond immediate customers and give back to the larger community.
"The program has helped us establish our company as a leader in the community," she
says, knowing she's gained qualified employees while helping more people return to
work.
As each project is completed, Logan's greatest reward is
watching participants proudly cross the graduation podium and take steps towards new
possibilities. "It's a feel-good situation. We believe in the opportunities the program
has to offer."
Walk into Cliff Gaetz's office and it is obvious that the president of Hallmark
Floors has an appreciation for professionally installed flooring. The lightly
patterned, cut-pile carpet is accented by a complementary side runner on the wall,
providing a skilled, finishing touch to the room.
Gaetz's office represents his larger goals for the flooring
industry; he wants to see more people who install carpeting, tiling, and wooden floors
to meet industry standards and carry appropriate qualifications. "I think most
industries are very concerned with having skilled trades people entering their
industry, whether it be flooring, carpentry, siding, or roofing," he says. "They just
don't have enough people coming in."
As a business owner, manager, and executive board member of the Atlantic Flooring
Association, Gaetz recognized the need for more skilled workers. In 2003 he partnered
with One Journey and the Community Care Network, a non-profit community organization
which co-ordinated and housed the training. Through a strong network of government
departments, industry leaders and non-profit community groups, the One Journey program
connects employers experiencing skilled labour shortages with candidates ready to take
customized training and fill the gaps.
In order to gain the most suitable, well-trained candidates,
Gaetz determined the best types of persons for the positions, outlined the skills
candidates would need to learn in training, and liaised between students and other
employers for position placements.
"My role was to see that the program was as successful as
possible, to see the people finish the course and stay employed," he says. "Because
I'm in the flooring business, I can relay more real-life experiences to these people
as they finish the course and enter the work field."
While partnering on a project with government departments and
other groups was a new experience, working with government through the
One Journey: Work & Learn program produced a natural fit, according to Gaetz.
"Government knows how to structure training and how to help people adapt to a new
career, and industry knows what types of persons are best suited to their
industry."
Ten candidates successfully finished four weeks of essential
skills training and a ten week training phase before continuing apprentice training
with their employers. Since this time, the majority of graduates are still working
within the industry.
Gaetz viewed the 2003 project as such a success that he helped
launch a second project in winter 2005. "There are some really neat things that have
happened to that course," he reflects. "At the end of the first course, we knew there
were things we could change and make better. I'm sure that every year, we're going to
continue to make it better."
The second flooring installers project added two weeks of
essential skills training to sharpen mathematical, communication and teamwork skills,
while devoting more time to cover additional flooring techniques.
Besides representing the flooring industry in these projects,
Gaetz recently joined the One Journey: Work & Learn steering committee to lend an
industry perspective to the overall program. While Gaetz insists he's just
gotten his feet wet with the committee, he's already brought new perspectives to
One Journey: "I joined the steering committee to provide the industry viewpoint, as I
think my experiences will help as new projects are developed with future employers."
"There are some principles that will apply to any industry,"
Gaetz adds. "First and foremost, we realize the importance of fine-tuning projects to
qualify the right people for the position, so we recruit the best candidates who will
stay employed within the industry."
So what makes the One Journey: Work & Learn program appealing to employers? Gaetz
believes One Journey surpasses other programs based on its flexibility to meet
industry requirements. "The program is much more adaptable to an industry's needs, and
encourages industries to say what they need in terms of training, and the types of
people are best suited for their industry." |
