LumberMart, Nova Scotia Community College and SmartBusiness - real-time solutions to today's labour problems
Hiring the right people for the job is an essential element in business success. Being able to find the right people is not always an easy task as the building supply industry in Nova Scotia well knows. It has been experiencing a shortage of qualified salespeople for several years. That shortage, however, may soon be a problem of the past.
"Our customers expect employees to have a level of expertise in home renovation. We have been looking to hire workers with that expertise but have found it difficult," says Fred O'Hearn, President of LumberMart Ltd., which currently employs 26 people at two locations in Greater Halifax. The company has two immediate job openings it has been unable to fill.
Mr. O'Hearn expressed his labour market needs to SmartBusiness during a meeting. SmartBusiness, an initiative of the Greater Halifax Partnership, is currently visiting business owners and senior business representatives to gather information on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing the business community in Greater Halifax. These businesses operate in all sectors and come in all sizes.
"It's our job to listen - and to facilitate solutions," says SmartBusiness Director, Brad Smith.
"In the case of LumberMart," he adds, "we were able to connect the company - and subsequently the industry - with the Nova Scotia Community College to answer labour demand challenges in real time."
LumberMart, the Community College, the Building Supply Dealers Association and other building supply companies have now held their first meeting and a 20-week course - including a month-long practical work experience component - will launch this October.
"We have to have a business case to offer customized training, and the business case for the Building Supplies Sales program is very strong," says Charlie Francheville, NSCC's Manager of Customized Training and Part-time Studies for Trades in Metro.
"One of the keys to success," he adds, "is the commitment from industry. The building supply industry is giving us solid support and, in some cases, guarantees of employment for graduates."
The seeds of success have certainly been sown. In Nova Scotia, there are 119 building supply stores and roughly 5000 employees. Demand for skilled labour is growing. "There are a lot more stores out there now. There are computers. Safety is a huge issue. The industry has evolved and this course will help us meet new demands and expectations," says Mr. O'Hearn.
Providing customized training programs in partnership with industry is a cornerstone of the Nova Scotia Community College. Recently, for example, NSCC designed a customized program for young people in drywall and acoustical services. The drywall industry endorsed this comprehensive course with the first ten students having graduated this past spring. Many of the graduates received job offers immediately upon successfully completing the program.
"It's the partnership between business and industry that underscores this success," notes Mr. Francheville.
From Fred O'Hearn's perspective such partnerships are simply SmartBusiness.
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