FRONTLINES CTMA’s Career-Ready Program Helps Close Gap In MTDMA Sector And Assists Employers With Hiring Costs The Canadian Tooling & Machining Association’s (CTMA’s) CareerReady program has been extended for another year. First launched in 2019, this very successful program was designed to help close the skilled trades’ gap in the Machine, Tool, Die, Mould and Automation (MTDMA) sector in support of the auto manufacturing industry. The Career-Ready with CTMA program will provide up to 240 Experiential Work Placements for co-op students or recent graduates from Ontario’s publicly assisted post-secondary institutions, as well as potential new apprentices. Work placements will run for 10 to 16 weeks and consecutive placements are permitted within the program’s timeframe. “The goal is to provide participants with real-world experience that improves their employability by building their knowledge and skills, while also supporting employers by contributing to the cost of hiring,” explains Robert Cattle, Executive Director, CTMA. “CareerReady is beneficial for employers seeking to fill positions relevant to the automotive industry, and for students looking for placements to gain practical workplace skills and experience.” Eligible employers will receive $3,000 to $5,000 in funding for each work placement to assist with the cost of hiring, and can receive funding for up to 12 candidates. Employers will be required to follow a list of industry-specific Technical Learning Outcomes and monitored visits will be conducted during the work placements — in-person or virtually. Employers must pay each candidate a wage of at least $14 per hour, for the duration of the placement. “The Career-Ready program gave me the chance to further my knowledge in the mould making industry by working at Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd., and allowed me to continue in my postsecondary schooling without having to worry about the financial part of it,” says Kinyara King, a 2019 Career-Ready participant. “Without this funding, a lot of what I am doing now would not be possible. The Career-Ready program has helped me develop my skills and pursue my career.”
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Career-Ready participant Kinyara King (on computer) shows the efficiency of the vertical Kardex storage system that Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd. uses to reduce order picking time and increase productivity, to the Canadian Minister of Middle-Class Prosperity, Mona Fortier, during a manufacturing tour of local facilities in January 2019. Also pictured is Cavalier Tool President Brian Bendig (back right) discussing his operation with Irek Kusmierczyk, MP Windsor-Tecumseh, pre-COVID-19, at his plant, 3450 Wheelton Drive in Windsor. Photo courtesy of Lori Kennedy.
Each candidate will work alongside experienced tradespeople, skilled workers and other professionals who will provide the opportunity to gain real world skills and knowledge. Upon successful completion, candidates may be offered permanent employment by the employer. “Advantages of the Career-Ready program include the ability to assist in covering the costs of training new employees, encouraging our youth and new graduates into the industry, and the pride of promoting economic development in Ontario,” states Lori Kennedy of Cavalier Tool’s accounting department. “CareerReady not only helps address these needs, but also the obligations we have as good corporate citizens to perpetuate skilled trades and manufacturing. Given the growth that Cavalier Tool (CavalierTool.com) has had over the last few years, this incentive is appreciated and has helped us fill the skills gap the industry is experiencing.” The Career-Ready program runs until March 31, 2021. Employers who hired students, recent grads, or new apprentices after April 1, 2020, can receive retroactive funding. You can learn more about the program by visiting: CTMA.com.
