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Workforce training
A WELL-OILED MACHINE IN WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE TRAINING AT VALA
Valley Adult Learning Association is a Literacy and Basic Skills program, funded under the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Its office is located in the small town of Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario. For the 21st last years, Barb Duguay, the program administrator, and Kim Redford, the instructor, have been successfully running the adult literacy program at a time when Workplace/ Workforce definitions were out there but really not well defined. After much consultation and discussion with learners and employers, a Workplace vs. Workforce guide was developed. This is how workplace and workforce trainings could be characterized: Workplace › Authentic training driven by the employer › Can be off-site or on-site
WORKPLACE SCENARIOS Over the years, the VALA agency has worked diligently with employers and learners to secure new skills and job security. Here are some examples of the training in Workplaces.
SUPER 8 ESSENTIAL SKILLS TRAINING PROJECT The management team of the Super 8 Hotel approached the VALA program, and was invested in training staff. Barb Duguay believes that when the employer is on board, it offers both the LBS program and the employer time to design authentic training. Bonuses for that project were not only both parties’ investment in time but also the fact that wages were paid to employees as they were attending training. Shortly after the training, they were told that the hotel manager was pleasantly surprised with the increase in staff camaraderie and problem solving abilities.
› Employer determines learning objectives
› Essential Skills Project;
› Employer provides learners
› Run in conjunction with Super 8 hotel in 2010;
Employer referral: My employee needs some training Workforce › Authentic training driven by the employee › Learner determines the work skills needed to be successful › Learners may be working already or looking for employment › Can be off-site or on-site Self-referral: I need some training One of the keys to VALA’s programs’ successes is flexibility, reflects Barb Duguay. Another one is certainly Authentic Training: a learner will be more invested in learning what is relevant to their workplace. Also, an employer will prefer to invest in an employee who will improve performance in the workplace.
› To address essential skills needs in the workplace; › Super 8 staff required skills upgrading in digital technology in order to transition into a new computer management system; › 17 staff members participated; › 6 month computer training course (2 days per week to alternate staff); › Staff paid wages by Super 8 during training.
ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION (OTEC) – CUSTOMER SERVICE In August of 2017, VALA was presented an opportunity through the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation: a week of intense training in Toronto was offered to employers and staff in the hospitality industry. The recruitment process was to be handled by VALA and it was a challenge as the design had to be designed around staff working in the hospitality business, with
