Women looking to make a mark on the automotive service industry have a new road open to them, thanks to a newly launched women-only pre-apprenticeship program training new automotive service technicians at Niagara College.
The Women in Skilled Trades – Automotive Service Technician is one of three pre-apprenticeship training programs that will help young and mature students alike kick-start a career in the skilled trades. Other programs on offer include General Machinist and Electrician-Construction Maintenance, both of which have been offered many times through the college.
The idea for a pre-apprenticeship program open only to women stemmed from an initiative at the college to encourage and support women in starting a career in the skilled trades. “We know that women currently make up a very small percentage of the workforce in the automotive service sector, yet they present one of the industry’s greatest opportunities for growth,” said Jeff Murrell, Niagara College’s associate dean in the School of Trades.
A 2016 report by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada found that only 6.4 per cent of jobs in the skilled trades are held by women. The report also found that those women in the industry face significant challenges due to that underrepresentation, and that employers had a difficult time finding female workers, due to a lack of qualified, available candidates.
Offering a unique, women-only pre-apprenticeship is the latest step NC’s School of Trades has taken to increase female representation in the skilled trades. The College has formed a Women in Skilled Trades group, allowing women studying across various trades programs to develop and share their experiences, and this past fall, offered a Basics of Automotive workshop for women. Two-day workshops were held for Niagara District School Board students as well as NC students and staff, in partnership with Girls Mechanic Team.
“With the growth in technology that we are seeing in vehicles manufactured at this current time, the role of the technician has greatly evolved and is in high demand,” said Shamil Becharbhai, Service Operations Manager at Henley Honda in St. Catharines. “We are in need of more female technicians to join this amazing trade which not only demonstrates hands on skills, but problem solving analytical knowledge in everyday situations when diagnosing and repairing vehicles. We have found our female clientele have been thrilled to see that they have an option to speak to a female technician or female service advisor, which makes the guest experience more accommodating.”
Niagara College has been offering pre-apprenticeship programs for over 20 years. The 24-week programs are fully funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and offer eight weeks of preparatory training, eight weeks of Level 1 apprenticeship training, and eight weeks of on-the-job work experience with a local employer.
Participants often transition from that work placement into full-time jobs or apprenticeships. A study of participants in the 2017 Electrician-Construction Maintenance program one year following the program showed that over 70 per cent had secured full apprenticeships.
All three programs will begin class on April 22, and spaces are still available in some programs – anyone interested in applying can do so online at www.niagaracollege.ca.
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Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.
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