PAST PROGRAMS
PAST PROGRAMS
Aboriginal Work Connections
Aboriginal Work Connections was a 12-week (3-phase) Job Readiness and Essential Skills Program with assessments, life skills, basic skills and upgrading, computer training, short-term certificate training, job search skills, and work experience.
It was supported by employment counselling, mentoring, coaching, guest speakers, and follow-up services and supplemented by wage subsidies, child care costs, transportation and extraordinary costs, where required and warranted.
BC FoodWorks
The objective of the BC FoodWorks Program is to accelerate the success of new or early growth phase agrifood processing companies based in British Columbia. The Program will support individual small- and medium-sized enterprises throughout the province by providing business training, customized workshops, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, ongoing business support, networking and marketing opportunities to address challenges related to business planning, human resources, export development, investment attraction, operations, regulatory processes and/or sales and marketing.
Business Works for Youth
Business Works for Youth is an entrepreneurial program that assisted eligible youth in South and Central Vancouver Island take their business ideas/concepts and turn them into a viable business, by way of business coaching, entrepreneurial training, and support from the community.
The program was designed to assess interest and aptitude, and once determined, to assist Participants to acquire entrepreneurial and work-related skills through the development and implementation of a business plan.
We worked with each Participant to develop and implement a customized participation plan which will outline tailored activities and financial supports (where required and warranted), designed to meet the individual needs of the Participant.
Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services
In partnership with Worksafe BC and Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services, ETHOS provided business feasibility and assessment services across a variety of disciplines and industries.
CARE - Abbotsford, Mission, Gulf Islands, Nanaimo, Parksville-Qualicum, Saanich, Sidney
Assist clients in the Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Mission, Sidney, Saltspring and Saanich area to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment
- Providing employment related services
- Employment Resource Centre
Experience Works
The Experience Works operated from 2000 to 2010, with a few variations over the years. Experience Works (EW) was a six week, career decision making program designed to help mature workers (i.e. age 45+) return to work. 1448 participants have participated in this program in the 10 year period.
EW provided facilitated group sessions and one-to-one counselling, and featured professional and self-assessments to help participants clarify transferable skills and work goals, up-to-date labour market information, training in job search skills – cover letters, résumés, interviewing skills, individualized job search plans, etc., computer literacy skill enhancement, short-term training, employer connections and individual employment counselling with a trained counsellor. This training and support gave participants the confidence necessary to find and maintain employment in their chosen field. Connection and support was maintained with participants for 12 weeks to ensure their continued success. This very successful, long-standing program was cut from Ministry budgets effective March 31, 2011, after 10 successful years.
The EW Program focus was on career direction but also contained elements of job search. The goal was to assist the mature worker to make the transition back into the labour force. We have successfully offered this program and its variations, both on a “one site” and mobile regional basis, in Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo (and surrounding area), Parksville and Qualicum.
Experience Works Entrepreneurs
The Experience Works Entrepreneur program will be provided self-employment assessment and training support to participants between the ages of 50 and 65 and who are transitioning back into the labour force through self employment.
Experience Works Mobile
Experience Works Mobile provided employment assistance and employability improvement activities to unemployed individuals, 50-64 (preference given to those 55-64), legally entitled to work in Canada, lacking skills needed for successful integration into new employment and residing in the service delivery area, that will assist participants with the transition back into the labour force, improve employability skills and/or increase their employability potential.
It was a six-week, facilitated group program, which included a four-week work experience option in the first versions and later included a wrap-up week where participants returned to the class.
EW-M provided facilitated group sessions and one-to-one counselling and featured: professional and self-assessments to help participants clarify transferable skills and work goals; up-to-date labour market information; training in job search skills – cover letters, résumés, interviewing skills, individualized job search plans, etc.; computer literacy skill enhancement; employer connections; and individual employment counselling with a trained counsellor. Connection and support were maintained with participants for 12 weeks to ensure their continued success.
Employment Assistance activities such as LMI, Needs Assessment, Return-to-Work Action Plans, Counselling/Case Management and referrals (not inclusive).
Employability Improvement activities for basic skills upgrading, short-term skills training, direct marketing of employers, and post-project mentoring and support (not inclusive).
Assistance to connect with employers with the help of a designated Job Connection Counsellor (JCC) for job shadowing, work experience (4 weeks) and post-program placement activities.
Services included those to Qualicum, Sechelt, Port Alberni and Mission areas.
Job Options
The Job Options program provided individuals with skills to find and sustain employment. The Job Options model provided up to 12 weeks of programming which included group and individual-based programming (6 weeks), short term training and work experience (6 weeks). Following participation in the Job Options program, participants either became employed, had increased skills and confidence to find employment, or moved into another employment intervention such as further training.
Gray Skills
Gray Skills was an older worker program that enhanced the employability and long-term employment of non EI eligible mature workers, over 54 years of age, and filled employment gaps that existed in various employment sectors on Vancouver Island. The project was piloted in the Greater Victoria Region and introduced employers to the benefits of employing mature workers, to enable more collaboration between government, business and employment agencies to address employee skill shortages and retention issues.
Activities included:
- RTWAP developed with Job Coach and MBTI assessment completed
- Personality Dimensions assessment completed
- Resume and cover letter drafted
- Skills training discussion and finalize resume
- Job matches with small businesses
- Meetings with Business Liaison and Mentor for job placement (skills training available if job required)
- Bi-weekly Workshop attendance
- Weekly Networking Sessions attendance
- Online Job Search Workshops completed (at home or onsite)
Onsite and online workshops included:
- Networking
- Age Advantage/Life Balance
- LMI
- Motivation/Stress
- Retirement Futures
- Right Attitude
- Workplace Communication
- Compelling Cover Letters (online)
- Remarkable Resumés (online)
- Surefire Job Search (online)
- Target Your Market (online)
- Web-Based Work Search (online)
Greater Victoria Urban Older Worker Program
The Greater Victoria Urban Older Worker Program was a 12 week (3 phase) Job Readiness and Essential Skills Program for Older Workers in the Greater Victoria Area, with assessments, life skills, basic skills and upgrading, computer training, short-term certificate training ,job search skills and work experience
It was supported by employment counselling, mentoring, coaching, guest speakers, and follow-up services and supplemented by wage subsidies, child care costs, transportation and extraordinary costs, where required and warranted.
Ready to Rise
The Ready to Rise (R2R) employment program was a 12 week online program for women 18+ who were LGBTQ2S+, indigenous, racialized (visible minorities), or with self-identified disabilities, and prolonged absence from the workforce.
The program was self-paced and provided specialized skills training and individual support to enter or re-enter the workforce and/or return to school. Participants received a wide range of supports such as: a training wage, transportation support, short-term certificate training, wage subsidy opportunities, and job start supports based on their needs.
Skills Quest for Success
The Skills Quest for Success program was a free online training program for those with a self-identified disability, focused on the nine Skills for Success identified by the Government of Canada. The aim of the program was to build foundational and transferable skills to better prepare job seekers for meeting on-the-job demands and entering or re-entering the labour force.
This program was funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers provides self-employment assessment and training support to eligible older workers transitioning back to the labour force via self-employment. It was designed to assess and address suitability for self-employment, support business plan development and deliver small business management skills, devoting special attention to the strengths and challenges of older workers pursuing self-employment solutions. A 7-week participant-driven program was designed to assess and address suitability for self-employment, support business plan development and deliver small business management skills, devoting special attention to the strengths and challenges of older workers pursuing self-employment solutions. The project provided assessments and employment or self-employment assistance to eligible participants. Participants determined through self-assessment which employment solution stream was suitable for them.
Completed interview and needs assessment as part of program intake
- Week of structured assessments and introduction to self-employment to ensure participants had a comprehensive understanding of the realities of pursuing self-employment, and their personal suitability for self-employment
- One-to-one coaching with additional supports addressing the individual needs of the participants
- Assisted participants in creation of realistic business plans/career goals
Trades and Technology Toolbox Program
The objective of the Trades and Technology Toolbox Program was to assist 108 clients with their career transitions and their exploration of the opportunities in the trades and technologies. In order to do this we:
- Interview self-referred clients and clients referred by community partners
- Deliver group and individual information sessions
- Facilitate 9 three-week group programs
- Arrange, transport, and conduct participants on tours of employer work places and trades and technology training facilities
- Provide one-to-one sessions for personal plan development
- Develop and maintain a database for HRSDC for tracking and accountability
We have competent and committed staff with a proven track record in the efficient, effective delivery of Cowichan-Parksville corridor-wide programs. Within this corridor we have established strong working relationships with fellow service providers, community agencies, employers, and training providers.
Youth Mean Business
Youth Mean Business assisted over 79 eligible participants (18 to 29 years of age) in the Victoria Capital Regional District (all communities) to enter the labour force and develop and/or enhance their entrepreneurial, employability and occupational skills through the development of a formal business plan, mentorship and training provided by recognized Training Institutions.
Through this program, non EI-eligible youth with a sound business concept receive assistance to develop a strong concept into a formal business plan. Each participant develops and implements a customized participation plan which outlines tailored activities and financial supports, designed to meet the individual needs of the participant. Participants take an average of 6 months to complete the program. Each participant is provided with training and business coaching, encouraged and supported to develop and/or foster a mentorship relationship with a business leader or expert.
Youth Skills BC Entrepreneurial Pilor was a 7-week participant-driven program designed to assess and address suitability for self-employment, support business plan development and deliver small business management skills, devoting special attention to the strengths and challenges of older workers pursuing self-employment solutions. The project provided assessments and employment or self-employment assistance to eligible participants. Participants determined through self-assessment which employment solution stream was suitable for them.
- Completed interview and needs assessment as part of program intake
- Week of structured assessments and introduction to self-employment to ensure participants had a comprehensive understanding of the realities of pursuing self-employment, and their personal suitability for self-employment
- Opportunity for participants to select the most appropriate stream – either self-employment or employment assistance
- Assessment of transferable skills and abilities
- One-to-one coaching with additional supports addressing the individual needs of the participants
- Assisted participants in creation of realistic business plans/career goals
- Trained practical application of small business management or employability skills during the research and supported business plan development/supported job search components
- Utilized Solution-Focused Counselling approaches to address employment/self-employment barriers
