INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 2019 Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 1
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is leading an ambitious and innovative three-year journey to continue our transformation into a high-performance, customer-focused organization that is responsive and driven by industry demand. We will continue to lead the provincial trades training system working closely with industry, labour, apprentices, training providers, and other stakeholders to ensure we are collectively focused and strive to meet the demand for skilled tradespeople as our economy continues to thrive. Our Three-Year Strategic Plan has been built through significant and valuable input from our partners. This includes our Sector Advisory Groups, representing the voice of industry in 10 sectors that rely heavily on tradespeople, employers, key industry associations, training providers, and apprentices. The input we received from industry and the broad support we heard for the direction outlined within this plan reflect that ITA is truly an industry-led system. The ITA is building from a strong foundation. In 2016, nearly 45,000 people participated in industry training programs, up from 26,525 in 2006. Of those, over 2,100 Aboriginal peoples were registered in 73 different trades training programs more than double since 2006; and over 3,900 women are registered as apprentices in 2016, three times the registration number of 1369 in 2006. ITA has grown the number of employer sponsors to approximately 10,300 in 2016, up from 8,800 in 2006. And most importantly, the number of industry training credentials issued has risen to over 7,600 in 2016 from 3,551 in 2006. As we look to the future, ITA s Three-Year Strategic Plan builds on the direction set through the Skills for Jobs Blueprint, the McDonald Report, and successive mandate letters. The goals and strategies included in this plan will support ITA s coordinated approach to increase continuation from Foundation programs into apprenticeship and increase apprentice completion of training. We know that recent initiatives have had measureable impacts on the number of apprentices who complete their training, and ITA wants to continue to work with industry training partners to keep this trend heading in the right direction. Our expanded programs for youth in K-12 education will be an important part of this initiative as ITA reaches out to students at younger ages to discover trades. These expanded youth programs also provide more trades exploration options and result in a clearer path for the students, and smoother transition from youth programs into apprenticeship which will help drive completion. As a key enabler to our success, ITA has transformed its relationship with industry, linking labour market research and gathering meaningful industry input to ensure evidence-based investment. Sector Advisory Groups comprised of industry leaders from 10 key economic sectors provide strategic advice on sector performance and trades training requirements. Our strong industry reach has been further deepened through the work of our Industry Relations team and by engaging industry subject matter experts in all ITA program development activities. Our customer service has been dramatically enhanced with on-the-ground support from 15 new regional Apprenticeship Advisors, including special advisors who focus on helping Aboriginal apprentices. Our efforts have enabled us to deepen connections with trades training stakeholders, and provide crucial supports for apprentices, helping them when needed in their journey and through barriers to continuation or completion. Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 2
OUR FUTURE ITA will continue to deliver a quality and dynamic apprenticeship system, with the vision of building a world-class training and apprenticeship system. Our focus will be on continuous improvement, excellent customer service, and strong organizational performance that will best support apprentices and industry. We will successfully deliver on our mandate to build a skilled workforce to support continued economic prosperity for British Columbia. OUR PURPOSE The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads and coordinates British Columbia s skilled trades system. ITA works with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, support apprenticeships, set program standards, and support increased opportunities in the trades. VISION World-class training and apprenticeship for British Columbians. MISSION To build the trades that build BC. OUR VALUES RESPECT. We value mutual respect in everything we do and how we do it. Nothing is more important than the respect we have for our people and the trust we put in their skills. EXCELLENCE. We value a superior experience for all of our customers, internal and external, sensing their needs and exceeding their expectations. INNOVATION. We value the spirit and practice of innovation. We believe that change fosters the constant improvement that is crucial for success. COLLABORATION. We value the opinion of others, openness and transparency. With everyone at the table, and everything on the table, we deliver the best results. Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 3
GOAL 1: IMPROVE QUALITY OF TRADES TRAINING SYSTEM Our goal is continuous improvement in the quality of the trades training system for apprentices and employers. We will continually engage with industry to identify opportunities for improvement in program design and delivery; deliver better youth training programs that seamlessly integrate into apprenticeship; create better trade-specific information available to apprentices and employersponsors; and make better use of our existing data to identify issues in the training system. STRATEGIES 1.1 Focus on customers Ensure that customer needs are at the centre of all ITA decisions and that the organization helps guide apprentices and employer-sponsors through the industry training system smoothly 1.2 Enhance customer support Expand customer support with new and improved webbased and mobile tools that enable self-service access to relevant information for apprentices and employer-sponsors OUTCOMES Increased access to information for apprentices and employer-sponsors to better manage apprenticeship Expanded programs for youth to discover, explore, train and work in trades to improve success and provide a better transition into apprenticeship Enhanced levels of satisfaction from apprentices and sponsors for training received, and better information to training system partners to identify areas for improvement 1.3 Improve apprentice tracking and outreach Improve tracking of apprentice progress toward completion of in-school and on-the-job training and use this information to provide assistance and information to apprentices that will help them progress through training and obtain a credential 1.4 Measure satisfaction and identify areas for improvement Engage with apprentices, industry, and employersponsors to measure satisfaction of the training system and identify areas for improvement 1.5 Report on quality and effectiveness Publish an annual report card to measure the quality and effectiveness of the trades training system Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 4
GOAL 2: RIGHT SKILLS, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME THROUGH TRADES TRAINING Our goal is to ensure the trades training system delivers the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to meet the needs of BC s economy. We will demonstrate this through leveraging the province s labour market information; overlaying industry feedback from Sector Advisory Groups; and ensuring that the trades training system understands and is responsive to evolving needs of apprentices and employer-sponsors. STRATEGIES 2.1 Engage with industry Engage with industry to validate BC s forecast of future job openings and training needs 2.2 Align funding to industry demand Align trades training funding to industry demand for skilled trade workers 2.3 Improve apprentice completion rates Ensure apprenticeship progression and completion rates continue to improve to make sure we have the workers that industry needs OUTCOMES Increased opportunities to access training to fill skilled trades jobs in areas of labour market demand 5,000 youth enrolled in new programs who will explore, train and work in the skilled trades Increased participation and success for groups facing barriers to trades training 2.4 Enhance youth programs Increase opportunities for elementary and high-school students to gain exposure and experience with the trades 2.5 Support groups facing barriers in trades training Support the recruitment and success of Aboriginal people, women, immigrants, and people with disabilities Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 5
GOAL 3: INNOVATION & COLLABORATION IN TRADES TRAINING Our goal is to increase innovation and collaboration across BC s trades training system to meet the needs of apprentices and employers. We will encourage innovation in the training system; work with industry to provide advice on ITA trade standards; collaborate with training provider and industry partners to develop partnerships; and ensure that apprentices can seamlessly move between jurisdictions for work while maintaining their ability to progress through the apprenticeship system. STRATEGIES 3.1 Promote and support more innovation in trades training Encourage innovation in the trades training system to improve apprenticeship outcomes and completion through measuring outcomes from innovative pilot projects and sharing information on successful innovative training models with partners in trades training 3.2 Enhance collaboration between industry and training providers Enhance collaboration between industry and training providers to improve the delivery of trades training OUTCOMES Enhanced collaboration with training providers to develop consistent, high quality harmonized trades training across British Columbia Alignment between investment in training and industry training needs as identified through provincial labour market data and feedback from Sector Advisory Groups Improved manageability of the time required to be away from work to attend technical training through a combination of on-line and in-class training 3.3 Improve labour mobility Support the Forum of Labour Market Ministers commitment to harmonizing apprenticeship training for 30 Red Seal trades by 2020 and the Pan Canadian Apprentice Mobility Protocol to ensure the ability of apprentices to maintain and complete their apprenticeship program when moving between provinces and/or territories Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 6
GOAL 4: INFORMATION & SUPPORT FOR TRADES TRAINING Our goal is to provide British Columbians with information and support to encourage participation and improve success in the trades training system. We will provide more information to employers about the value of apprenticeship; ensure that both employers and apprentices have access to on-the-ground support across BC; and continue to develop strategic partnerships across BC that promote apprenticeship and the trades as a great career choice. STRATEGIES 4.1 Encourage more employers to sponsor apprentices Promote the value of apprenticeship to employer-sponsors through demonstrating the ways that apprenticeship can enable business growth and sustainability 4.2 Provide tailored advice to apprentices and sponsors about training Leverage data about apprentices and employer-sponsors to anticipate their needs and provide customized information that enables apprentices to succeed in training and successfully complete their apprenticeship OUTCOMES Improved information about the value of apprenticeship to increase the number of sponsored apprentices in areas of labour market demand Increased understanding and knowledge about industry training programs Enhanced customer support to apprentices and employersponsors to enable success 4.3 Promote partnerships across BC Promote partnerships and outreach in all regions of BC to provide information about the value of apprenticeship and how important it is to the succession planning for businesses Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 7
VISION World class apprenticeship for British Columbians MISSION To build the trades that build BC VALUES Respect We value mutual respect in everything we do and how we do it. Nothing is more important than the respect we have for our people and the trust we put in their skills. Excellence We value a superior experience for all of our customers, internal and external, sensing their needs and exceeding their expectations. Innovation We value the spirit and practice of innovation. We believe that change fosters the constant improvement that is crucial for success. Collaboration We value the opinion of others, openness and transparency. With everyone at the table, and everything on the table, we deliver the best results. GOALS, STRATEGIES & METRICS IMPROVE QUALITY OF TRADES TRAINING Improve the quality of the trades training system for apprentices and employers. RIGHT SKILLS, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME THROUGH TRADES TRAINING Ensure the trades training system delivers the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to meet the needs of BC s economy. INNOVATION & COLLABORATION IN TRADES TRAINING Increase innovation and collaboration across BC s trades training system to meet the needs of apprentices and employers. INFORMATION & SUPPORT FOR TRADES TRAINING Provide British Columbians with information and support to encourage participation in the trades and improve success in the trades training system. Strategies Focus on customers Enhance customer support Improve apprentice tracking and outreach Measure satisfaction & identify areas for improvement Report on quality & effectiveness Strategies Engage with industry Align funding to industry demand Improve apprentice completion rates Enhance youth programs Support groups facing barriers in trades training Strategies Promote and support more innovation in trades training Enhance collaboration between industry & training providers Improve labour mobility Strategies Encourage more employers to sponsor apprentices Provide tailored advice to apprentices and sponsors Promote partnerships across BC Outcomes Increased access to information for apprentices and employer-sponsors to better manage apprenticeship Expanded programs for youth to discover, explore, train and work in trades to improve success and provide a better transition into apprenticeship Enhanced levels of satisfaction from apprentices and sponsors for training received, and better information to training system partners to identify areas for improvement Outcomes Increased opportunities to access training to fill skilled trades jobs in areas of labour market demand 5,000 youth enrolled in new programs who will explore, train & work in the skilled trades Increased participation and success for groups facing barriers to trades training Outcomes Enhanced collaboration with training providers to develop consistent, high quality harmonized trades training across British Columbia Alignment between investment in training and industry training needs as identified through provincial labour market data and feedback from Sector Advisory Groups Improved manageability of the time required to be away from work to attend technical training through a combination of on-line and in-class training Outcomes Improved information about the value of apprenticeship to increase the number of sponsored apprentices in areas of labour market demand Increased understanding and knowledge about industry training programs Enhanced customer support to apprentices and employersponsors to enable success Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 8
SUMMARY Skilled trades have built British Columbia and will continue to lay the foundation for economic growth. To develop this Three-Year Strategic Plan, ITA listened closely to industry, apprentices, and trades training system partners. We heard that they want ITA to build on its strengths to ensure British Columbia s successful apprenticeship system meets future labour market demands. That is why, over the next three years GOAL 1: We will continue to improve the quality of trades training for apprentices and their employer sponsors. GOAL 2: We will ensure we can deliver the right skills, at the right place, at the right time through trades training to meet the needs of BC s economy. GOAL 3: We will enhance our collaboration with trades training system partners to foster a culture of innovation across BC. GOAL 4: We will provide the best information and support to our customers to encourage participation and improve success. Working together with our customers and our partners, we will continue to build a world-class apprenticeship system for British Columbians. Three-Year Strategic Plan: 2017 2019 9