On November 6, CLAC announced that it has struck a partnership with Support Ontario Youth (SOY) to streamline the apprenticeship pathway in Ontario.

The agreement lays a pathway for more apprentices to complete their apprenticeships. It aims to clear up confusion about the apprenticeship system, which is often a significant barrier to enrolment and completion.

“At any given time, hundreds of apprentices are registering, progressing through, and completing their apprenticeship programs within CLAC,” said Colin deRaaf, CLAC Training director in Ontario. “We want to ensure that they are able to complete their apprenticeships and enjoy rewarding careers in the skilled trades, which is why we’ve partnered with SOY.”

SOY is an apprenticeship sponsor group for electricians and plumbers. It works with apprentices, employers and industry stakeholders to help streamline apprenticeship pathways.

Under the agreement, CLAC employers, apprentices and the CLAC Jobs team will engage with SOY’s apprenticeship sponsor group services, which includes recruitment, registration, administration, and on-going support to employers and apprentices.

This means CLAC can provide continuing support to their apprentices when they are seeking employment via the CLAC Jobs service. These apprentices can now stay registered as apprentices without having to be sponsored directly by an employer. They do not lose their spot in line for the in-class portion of their apprenticeship, their membership in the Ontario College of Trades stays in good standing, and they can still qualify for grants and bursaries.

“An apprentice’s ability to continue learning should not be handcuffed by the employer’s ability to keep them employed,” said Stephen Sell, SOY’s executive director. “These apprentices can now continue learning and preparing for their chosen career versus dropping out because they are between jobs. By sharing resources and aligning our services with like-minded organizations, such as CLAC, we take leaps in helping streamline the apprenticeship pathway in Ontario.”

“SOY and CLAC will collaborate with the individual apprentices to ensure they have full access to resources and mentorship while they prepare for the in-class portion of their apprenticeship and the certificate of qualification certificate exam,” said Glenda Rahn, SOY’s program manager.

SOY manages an apprentice’s progress to ensure trade skills are being learned and hours are being captured. SOY also engages the ministry, government oversight agencies, Ontario colleges, industry supporters and stakeholders, and employment agencies.

“By inserting ourselves into the process, we are able to help address barriers to completion, and hurdles that employers and apprentices face when working through the apprenticeship pathway,” said Huong Nguyen, SOY’s operations manager. “These experiences allow us to provide feedback to the ministry and key stakeholders responsible for apprenticeship learning. With this collaboration of resources, we’re able to stay on top of employer’s wants and apprentice needs with an active, open line of communication.”

“With this agreement, we can provide a collective voice surrounding the promotion of skilled trades and the modernization of apprenticeships in Ontario,” says deRaaf. “By streamlining and modernizing the apprenticeship pathway, we can help ensure Ontario has enough skilled tradespeople to continue moving forward, and we can ensure young Ontarians have access to rewarding careers.”