Apprenticeship Toolkit will support students considering skilled trades apprenticeships
The Mohawk College Apprenticeship Community Hub (The Hub) in collaboration with Workforce Planning Hamilton (WPH) and Support Ontario Youth (SOY) has developed an online and downloadable resource to help guide individuals through the apprenticeship process.
The apprenticeship process in Ontario involves several steps and can be challenging for people who are not familiar with skilled trades training. This new resource aims to simplify the process, helping students:
- gain an overall understanding of what is required to become an apprentice;
- determine whether they meet the educational requirements to apply;
- find an employer or sponsor;
- fill out their application forms; and
- create their training agreement.
“Ontario’s skilled trades are welcoming more and more people from diverse backgrounds, with varying levels of understanding of the apprenticeship process,” said Dr. Cebert Adamson, Vice President, Academic at Mohawk College. “We are grateful to be able to work with Workforce Planning Hamilton and Support Ontario Youth to help students successfully navigate the apprenticeship journey on their way to promising careers.”
The Apprenticeship Toolkit provides local labour market information for future apprentices, providing an understanding of the career opportunities in the area and the expectations employers have for an apprenticed employee.
“Navigating the apprenticeship journey can be tricky, especially for those new to the skilled trades,” said SOY Executive Director – Interim, Melanie Winter. “The Apprenticeship Toolkit provides essential guidance and resources to simplify the process — helping students understand requirements, find employers, and make informed decisions about their careers. This toolkit is part of a valuable support system, empowering young individuals to confidently pursue success in the skilled trades.”
“This valuable resource is the second installment of WPH toolkits provided to employers and new apprentices to get started with their employment pathway into the skilled trades,” said Khadija Hamidu, Executive Director of Workforce Planning Hamilton. “Our Apprenticeship Toolkit provides a local labour market information (LMI) framework to the future of skilled trades in order to provide a general context of what employers are requesting and looking for in an apprentice.”
The Hub and WPH have collaborated in the past to support the skilled trades sector in the Hamilton area. In May 2021, the partners published The Employer Apprenticeship Toolkit, a similar resource designed to guide prospective employers through the apprenticeship process.
WPH is a local community planning organization that leads the conversation in solutions to labour market issues by engaging stakeholders and community partners through data distribution and reporting. WPH supports Hamilton’s skilled trades shortages through economic analysis and furthers its research and understanding of how to support local skilled trades employers and employees.
The Hub, located in The Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship at Mohawk’s Stoney Creek Campus, was designed to strengthen outreach and keep employers and apprentices informed during all stages of their apprenticeship journey.
Mohawk's Apprenticeship Community Hub is a free resource that:
- delivers navigation resources, support and programs;
- showcases the trades and stimulates learning;
- helps remove barriers for those looking to participate and succeed in the skilled trades; and
- keeps apprentices in movement to strengthen our local, provincial and federal economy.
Support Ontario Youth is a registered not-for-profit organization that provides support to apprentices by being a resource for those looking to enter the skilled trades.