Upskilling in the steel industries

The CWB Association is dedicated to supporting its members through continued opportunities for training and education to encourage career progression.

The Training Supplement and Upskill Program (TSUP) has been meticulously designed to offer various skills that help promote continued learning and upskilling within the steel industries. Our goal is to build confidence within the industry by encouraging members to train further on the job to become the best that they can be. As the program rolls out, we are excited to be adding more educational partners to the mix, beginning with LearnIt.

Why This Service?

The CWBA rolled out this initiative because we heard our members when they told us what they needed. No matter the demographic, our membership knows that small advantages make a significant difference in both finding lucrative jobs and retaining them. This is our first attempt at a comprehensive training program encompassing all the skills surrounding the steel trades.

Education is extremely important, but finding the time and the money is often the roadblock. CWBAwants to try to eliminate these roadblocks and support our members from the first arc they strike on their first job to the day they retire. Learning to use computers properly, write projects, treat staff equitably, work with different sectors of society respectfully, know hiring processes, or even plan out a simple day on the job are essential to succeed in everyday life. We hope to provide for our community through this initiative.

Partnership With LearnIt

Two main types of courses are offered through TSUP and our partnership with LearnIt:

1. Partly Subsidized: These courses are offered for discounts or reduced rates for CWBA members. These are asynchronous (available anywhere, anytime) or can be programmed to set times with limited availability.

There are no limits to the number of partly subsidized or discounted courses taken. Once our members register, they can take advantage of an entire catalogue of courses online.

All CWB members will enjoy a 10 per cent discount on any course offered on the LearnIt platform.

2. Fully subsidized: These courses are fully funded by either the CWB Association or an industry partner. They also can be asynchronous or programmed.

The courses are available based on funding and availability, plus have limited seating.

External and internal partners can fund the courses for public and internal use to increase access.

“In my career as a welder and then fabricator, one of the most important lessons was that you must always keep learning to be successful,” said Max Ceron, director, CWB Association. “The second-biggest lesson was that it was my responsibility to keep learning. While working and living one’s life, it can be tough to find the time, money, and schedule to keep learning and gain the skills that an evolving workforce demands. That’s why it is crucial for us at the CWB Association to be there for our members every step of the way. With the TSUP, we can now offer a whole new way a professional association interacts with its members to provide the key education they need to reach their potential. Welding has given me an incredible and winding career, and it would not have been possible if not for the education I received along the way. I truly believe that this will be very beneficial for the industry.”

Why LearnIt?

LearnIt is an easy-to-use platform that allows for ease of access and convenience. It allows for an immersive experience for the user and provides numerous advantages once registration has been completed. The CWBA is extremely excited to be providing this service to the industry. We are confident that this will provide the opportunities needed for industry members to succeed in their careers.

To access more information about the CWB Association and our membership, please visit www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member.

Rhea Gill is communications lead at CWB Group, 8260 Parkhill Drive, Milton, Ont. L9T 5V7, 800-844-6790, rhea.gill@cwbgroup.org, www.cwbgroup.org.