Many underrepresented groups can join BC’s growing tech sector through the province’s Innovator Skills Initiative.
“We know employers across Canada are finding it challenging to find workers in this tight labor market,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “The Innovator Skills Initiative is an important tool to future-proof our province and help address our labor shortage and create an economy that creates opportunities for underrepresented groups in the technology sector.”
In the year In 2021, the province awarded $15 million to the Innovator Skills Initiative to help underrepresented people get started in the technology sector in 2022 and 2023. Because of the program’s success, the state allocated an additional $583,000 this summer. To enable prospective businesses to access the Innovator Skills Initiative programme.
“Programs like the Innovation Talent Initiative are an important part of BC’s creative economy,” said Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation. “I look forward to seeing the new scientific knowledge and discoveries that continue to emerge as our state builds on its global reputation as a technology hub.”
Funding from the province’s innovation initiative from fall 2021 has been matched by partners MiTax and the Information and Communications Technology Council for an investment of $29 million over 2022 and 2023.
The program provides employers with up to $10,000 in job placement funding, as well as resources to help companies recruit, retain, and develop workers who distinguish themselves from underrepresented groups.
“It’s imperative that we promote diversity, equity and inclusion in BC’s tech sector. Innovate BC is proud to deliver the Innovates Skills Initiative,” said Raghwa Gopal, President and CEO of Innovate BC. “We are facing a skills shortage in British Columbia and supporting the skills development of underrepresented professionals is a critical step in closing the skills gap.”
Since its creation, nearly 3,800 people have been able to find their first technology or technology-enabled job through the program – an important step toward filling the more than one million job openings expected in BC over the next 10 years.
StrongerBC’s economic plan will address today’s challenges for British Columbia to grow an economy that benefits everyone. The long-term plan builds on BC’s strong economic recovery and tackles two long-term challenges – inequality and climate change – by closing the skills gap, building stronger communities and helping businesses and people transition to clean-energy solutions. The plan sets two major goals for the province – inclusive growth and clean growth – and lays out six missions to keep BC going.
Quotations:
Linh Nguyen, Communication and Proposal Writer Upanup –
“The Innovator Skills initiative gave me the opportunity to work at Upanup as a communications and proposal writer. Joining Upanup gave me the opportunity to move into a new field of digital communication and explore the importance and dynamics of technologies that support countless lives in communities.
Darshan Kaler, CEO & Founder, Tradable Bits –
“The Innovator Skills Initiative has enabled us to bring in a recent female graduate and have her take courses relevant to her role at TradableBits. Funding like this allows us to upskill staff to expand their roles and responsibilities.
John Hepburn, CEO, Mytax –
“Mitax is proud to partner with Innovate BC on this important innovation initiative. By funding the innovation of underrepresented groups, we can help these talented undergraduates and graduate students gain meaningful experience by filling critical skills gaps facing organizations across our region. Together, we can create a more prosperous and creative future for all.
know more:
Stronger BC: BC Economic Plan: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/
Learn more about previous funding for the Creative Skills Initiative: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021JERI0060-001848
