Borger Group, Lehigh Hanson, O’Hanlon Paving sponsor new WBF Operator Readiness program

(January 7, 2016 – Edmonton AB) – Women Building Futures (WBF) has forged a new partnership with Borger Group, Lehigh Hanson and O’Hanlon Paving (The Fath Group) to train women as entry-level operators with potential employment opportunities with their companies. WBF, along with the sponsoring companies have identified bulldozer operators and front-end loader operators as occupations in demand, designing a program to gear students and their potential employer for success.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that these three companies have committed to share the sponsorship of the entire class of 16 women, providing tuition and the potential for employment at their projects in Alberta,” said JudyLynn Archer, Women Building Futures CEO and President.

WBF has already begun the recruiting process, applying their extensive experience in assessing the right candidates for this program and their potential employer.

The four-week, Operator Readiness program begins on March 18, 2016. This program prepares women for entry-level work as operators with hands-on skills training in Tools and Engines, Air Brake Endorsement, Movement Sequencing, Ground Disturbance Certification, Flag Person Training and Job Site Safety. The women will also receive seven Worksite Safety Certificates, WBF Workplace Culture (best practices needed to work in construction in a safe and productive way), financial literacy, employment assistance, job search training and job retention support.

Pre-assessment for drugs, alcohol and fitness-to-work will be provided through WBF’s assessment partner, SureHire Occupational Testing.

WBF has become a valued workforce development partner for Alberta’s construction industry by:

• growing a local labour pool through a sustained strategic initiative that positions trades as a career option of choice for women

• increasing employers’ hiring confidence by consistently delivering high quality apprentices who bring the right mix of skills, knowledge and attitude to the job

• increasing the registration and retention rate of female construction apprentices About Women Building Futures WBF operates the nation’s premier trades training facility for women: the first of its kind in Canada. Skill training shops, classrooms and 42 units of fully-furnished affordable housing provide a focused, results-driven approach to achieving the organization’s mandate. WBF offers women pre-trades competency-based training in welding, steamfitting/pipefitting, ironworking, plumbing, sheet metal, carpentry, electrical, heavy equipment operator training and more at their training centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

WBF has quickly become the go-to place for women interested in a career in the trades and for companies wishing to diversify their workforce. WBF is valued for empowering women to succeed in nontraditional careers, inspiring positive economic change for women and forever transforming the face of industry in Canada.

For more information about WBF, visit www.womenbuildingfutures.com