Calgary, Alberta, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In response to Alberta’s ongoing trades scarcity, residential homebuilders are laying a powerful basis to assist construct the following era of expert tradespeople, thanks to a $15 million investment campaign announced at this time at SAIT and NAIT by Jay Westman, Chair and CEO, Jayman BUILT.
Homebuilders are dealing with one of many largest development challenges they’ve ever skilled, placing house affordability in danger in Alberta. This campaign was created to handle the present and future want for expert tradespeople to enhance the {industry}’s capability to construct properties.
This fall, Westman challenged {industry} friends and neighborhood leaders to match funds raised to set up the BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers initiative. The problem has surpassed the preliminary $3 million aim — together with $2 million generously donated by Westman. With contributions from different leaders within the homebuilding neighborhood, together with notable investments from Homes by Avi and Anthem Properties, greater than $7 million has been dedicated. Today, Westman announced he’ll chair a serious investment campaign to attain his aim of $15 million.
Tuition for apprentice and diploma applications at SAIT and NAIT can surpass $5,000 for a four-year program. This initiative might fund roughly 3,000 awards for SAIT and NAIT homebuilding apprenticeship and pre-employment college students with desire given to demographics underrepresented within the {industry}. These pupil awards will cowl the total vary of residential development careers, together with carpentry, plumbing, sheet metallic, electrician, bricklayer, cupboard maker, roofer, drywall, glazier, insulator and painter, for instance, and can assist employees on a pathway to their journeyperson certifications.
A portion of the funds may even be devoted to participating highschool college students, and improve expert trades growth within the province by constructing consciousness of rewarding careers within the expert trades.
The BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers will see Alberta’s high polytechnics collaborate to assist the way forward for trades schooling and careers, by making certain people with numerous backgrounds have a chance to achieve expertise that can form the development {industry} for many years.
Quotes
“Careers in skilled trades provide important contributions to our communities and Alberta’s growing economy. We are thankful to once again see the homebuilding industry come together to elevate trade programs and support student success. Through this funding, SAIT students will have access to a scholarship program focused on building equity in the construction trades, and programming to engage with youth will foster an early interest in skilled trades. We would like to acknowledge Jay Westman for championing this initiative to support education in the trades and celebrate the success of students working in industry.”
Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO
“NAIT thanks Jay Westman for his generous commitment to students in construction careers. This is an investment in Alberta’s future. The BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers and youth engagement programs funded through this investment will pave the way for larger and more diverse enrollment in training for construction careers, ultimately helping to meet Alberta’s labour demand. Supporting student awards not only removes their financial barriers, but also gives them the help and encouragement to succeed and make a real difference in their chosen field.”
Laura Jo Gunter, NAIT President and CEO
“The shortage of skilled labour is the largest single issue our industry has ever faced, extending build times for new homes and putting at risk home affordability in our province,” stated Jay Westman, CEO and Chairman, Jayman BUILT. “I have chosen to lead by example and lead this investment campaign to make a notable impact in overcoming the financial concerns of students, while also bolstering our industry’s much-needed construction capacity across Alberta. This is an Alberta initiative with an Alberta solution.”
Jay Westman, Chair & CEO, Jayman BUILT & JWI Investments
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About SAIT
Established in 1916, SAIT was the primary publicly funded technical college of its sort in North America. Today, SAIT is a world chief in utilized schooling and analysis, serving greater than 50,000 college students yearly. SAIT presents certificates, diploma, put up diploma, apprenticeship and utilized diploma applications, baccalaureate levels, company coaching and greater than 1,000 persevering with schooling programs in addition to six devoted and award-winning analysis areas. Curriculum and analysis at SAIT is developed by {industry} partnerships to guarantee graduates and {industry} have the talents and information required within the office. SAIT is honoured to be chosen by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as certainly one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2022, and to be ranked sixth in Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada for 2021.
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About NAIT
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a number one Canadian polytechnic, delivering schooling in science, expertise and the setting; business; well being and expert trades. With over 34,000 credit score and non-credit college students and a 98 per cent employer satisfaction fee, NAIT grads assist gasoline the financial engine of the province. NAIT additionally contributes to Alberta’s prosperity by serving to companies and communities change into extra aggressive by industry-driven analysis and company coaching. Recognized as certainly one of Alberta’s high employers, NAIT supplies excellent returns on investment for its graduates, {industry} companions, the provincial authorities and the individuals of Alberta.
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- Speakers from the investment campaign announcement held at SAIT
