BCCA drives $15.725 million to B.C.’s construction industry

The B.C. Construction Association (BCCA) reports that it has completed delivery, ahead of schedule and within budget, on the most far-reaching construction trade apprenticeship drive ever undertaken in British Columbia. Surpassing its funding objective by more than $2 million, the Apprenticeship Services workforce development program was financed through the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Apprenticeship Service.

Employers who registered up to four first-year apprentices in BCCA’s Apprenticeship Services program could qualify to earn up to $40,000 in cash incentives over two years. Since launching in September 2022, the financial incentives offered through Apprenticeship Services have resulted in the hiring and registering of 2,075 apprentices in 37 Red Seal trades, and payments being sent to more than a thousand qualified employers in the province. In total, BCCA says that more than $15.725 million has been injected into the B.C. economy through its Apprenticeship Services program.

“I’m proud of the team at BCCA who delivered the Apprenticeship Services project ahead of schedule and under budget, far exceeding important targets set by the Federal government. In addition, we were able to transfer $780,000 from our operational budget into the program as a result of our team’s efficiencies, to the direct benefit of B.C.’s construction employers and apprentices,” stated Chris Atchison, president of BCCA. “Canadian taxpayers deserve nothing less than the efficient and reliable stewardship exemplified by BCCA’s outstanding management of programs like Apprenticeship Services.”

The province-wide initiative was delivered to small- and medium-sized construction employers to help them overcome financial barriers inherent in hiring and training first-year apprentices. The association says it leveraged its strong industry network and a highly successful Builders Life ad campaign to surpass important funder targets, including financial incentives paid and the diversity of apprentices. In addition, Apprenticeship Services drove program participants to key industry partners such as SkilledTradesBC.

“At a time when B.C.’s construction industry faces critical workforce shortages, BCCA has stepped up to support employers through workforce development programs like Apprenticeship Services,” continued Atchison. “We’re doing our part to mitigate the ongoing workforce shortage in construction. The current and foreseeable gap is too large to meet B.C.’s very real housing and infrastructure needs.”

BCCA’s Apprenticeship Services program formally closes on March 31.

www.bccassn.com