VCCS Employment Services Inc., a non-profit agency and resource centre in Lindsay, is receiving $225,032 in provincial funding for a project to connect job seekers and employers in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough.
Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, announced the funding at the agency’s offices at 370 Kent Street West on Thursday (September 10).
“Improving employment services by focusing on the local needs of our community will help people upgrade important skills employers are looking for and enable them to get back into the work force in high-demand sectors that will contribute to the province getting back on track,” Scott said. “The Filling the Gap program will connect people to jobs and employers to people.”
Called “Filling the Gap: Using Competency-Based Hiring and Portfolio Development to Connect Job Seekers and Employers’, the VCCS Employment Services Inc. project will train 40 job seekers and 10 employers across a variety of local and regional industries where filling available employment opportunities has been a challenge. The project will focus on people who have been traditionally underrepresented in the labour market, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and newcomers and international students.
“The implementation of competency-based hiring and portfolio development to highlight the skills of job seekers will enable employers to build a pipeline of talent to meet their hiring needs,” explained Brenda Roxburgh, executive director of VCCS Employment Services Inc.
“This community-based project will work in partnership with program stakeholders including those from literacy and essential skills services, workforce development, and regional employment service providers, as well as dedicated employer partners.”
In-class training, which will begin in October, includes focused competency portfolio development prior to a job placement or offer of employment by participating employers. Employers will receive individualized training plan development and ongoing support.
Funding for the Filling the Gap program comes from the Skills Catalyst Fund, administered by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, which supports projects with innovative approaches to training and workforce development.
The Ontario government is investing $37 million in 86 projects to help thousands of job seekers get the skills they need to become job ready. Local training is provided by university, college, community, and industry organizations.
“As our economy continues to reopen, the need for training and retraining is essential,” Scott said. “Projects like Filling the Gap will connect people to the jobs they need and businesses to skilled workers.”
