A new program will prepare Conestoga skilled trades students for success in the workforce by cultivating invaluable skills like communication, organization and teamwork.
The RBC Skilled Trades Leadership Toolbox is a free workshop series launched by the Talent Hub to educate and prepare people seeking careers within the skilled trades.
The RBC Skilled Trades Leadership Toolbox is a free workshop series launched by the Talent Hub with $200,000 in funding from RBC to educate and prepare people seeking careers within the skilled trades.
“The key topic here is soft skills. The program helps students develop those essential soft skills that are going to help them not just find employment, but also keep working and thrive in the skilled trades,” said program leader Stefan Roddau, trades resource co-ordinator, Talent Development and Career Services.
Workshops provide real-world examples and insights from the job site and shop floor, developed from consultations with more than 70 employers across various trades, as well as college faculty. Industry guests come to the sessions to share their perspective on what it takes to be successful in the trades.
“Meeting the demands of the trades labour shortage is not just about training more young adults to do the job, but also equipping them with the skills to adapt to an industry that is increasingly requiring more collaboration, creativity, and leadership,” said Alice Michaud, associate director, Talent Development and Career Services.
Both public and private-sector organizations are investing significant resources into growing and developing the next generation of tradespeople, Michaud said. “RBC is one of the stakeholders playing a lead role in supporting the skilled trades industry and fostering conversations about the skills that tradespeople will require in future.”
Six sessions cover communication, critical thinking, teamwork, employer expectations, career development, and equity, diversity and inclusion in the skilled trades. The general “soft skills” covered are through the lens of the skilled trades environment, such as showing how to organize fleet vehicles for more efficient workflow.
“Everything in those workshops is specific to the trades,” said Roddau, previously a stonemason who also worked in youth employment services.
The pilot runs until the end of July, and the series will be regularly run in subsequent semesters, starting at the Cambridge - Reuter Drive and Guelph campuses.
A digital resource library is also being developed to support career exploration, employment preparation and career readiness on the part of student, alumni and youth interested in the skilled trades.
RBC Future Launch® has provided more than $65 million in 2023 and, since 2017, supported more than 6.9 million Canadian youth and provided $393 million through more than 900 partner programs.
“By partnering to invest in programs like the RBC Skilled Trades Leadership Toolbox, we’re furthering our goal of equipping Canadians with the skills, experience, education and support they need for a thriving future,” said Claude DeMone, RBC’s regional president for southwestern Ontario.
Conestoga’s Talent Hub is a one-stop virtual and in-person service and support hub for career and employment advising, co-op and work-integrated learning. The Talent Hub assists students, alumni, and community job seekers at all stages of their career and employment journey.
For industry and community employers, the Talent Hub offers various services including mentorship, co-op experiences, job fairs, recruitment and more.