Eight men will get the opportunity to apply their new carpentry skills with two construction firms after graduating from the inaugural apprenticeship training program.
The programme was managed through an Apprenticeship Steering Committee which was developed by the Grenada National Training Agency (GNTA).
Marlene Abraham-Finlay who serves as the Coordinator for Training Support under the NTA referred to the graduation exercise as a “mandatory achievement.”
She recalled that in February 2022, after a series of consultations the skills to access the green economy referred to as SAGE partnered with GNTA, the Creative Design and Building Construction Company Limited and the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) designed and administered a one year pilot apprenticeship program.
The NTA Coordinator revealed that the program which began in May 2022 involved four aspects such as “technical support, delivery of the training, monitoring and evaluation and shared financing.”
The main goal, according to Abraham-Finlay was to create an apprenticeship “training model” for the island and under the program, students were able to “get the best of both worlds” while getting a salary.
“Quality apprenticeship is a unique form of technical, vocational and training even which combines on the job training with off the job training that lead to a recognised qualification while actually earning a wage,” she said.
The objectives of the program included firstly, providing “quality apprenticeship training” to ten students utilising regional occupational criteria for the CVQ level in carpentry.
In addition, the apprentice will get the opportunity to enhance their skills, employment marketability as well as entrepreneurship skills.
The program gave the students the chance to improve on their salary within the workforce.
The students selected were a combination of Creative Design workers, TAMCC graduates and unemployed people.
Apprentices got the chance to do in-class training once a week at TAMCC while receiving on the job training four days a week at the Creative Designs job sites.
Deeming the program a “success” the NTA Coordinator revealed the results of the program.
“Eight of the ten apprentices successfully completed the program so that was an eighty percent completion rate.
All eight apprentices who completed will be awarded with the CVQ level 2 in carpentry.
Seven of the apprentices are now employed at Creative Design and the eighth apprentice has been employed by another construction company”.
Abraham-Finlay also highlighted the collaboration between Creative Designs and TAMCC in sharing knowledge and “pooling” resources to ensure that students got the chance to learn the “world of work” as well as student life.
She declared, “This helps to improve the quality and effectiveness of training and reduce the potential for skill mismanagement.”
Interim Deputy Principal of TAMCC Dr. John Telesford conveyed that he was “elated” and “proud” to be a part of this “successful” program.
“It is heartwarming to stand before eight young men who have provided us with evidence that apprenticeship training is possible and can be used in Grenada,” he said.
“Apprenticeship is no easy feat to implement…So this apprenticeship model is centered around a dual based training, on the job training with our trainees…and theoretical aspects conducted by TAMCC,” he added.
Dr. Telesford disclosed that students spent 70 percent of the program on the job site and 30 percent in the classroom.
The Interim Deputy Principal while explaining the benefits of the apprenticeship model of training, stated, “TAMCC remains committed to this approach and looks forward to working with these apprentices and others in the future.”
“…As these young apprentices are not employed, we are encouraged that they are taken to the next level utilising the model…,” he remarked.
According to Dr. Telesford, TAMCC wants to work alongside the construction industry in Grenada and other industries at the NTA that implement the apprenticeship model.
He implored the graduates to utilise technology as it is an important aspect of life today.
“Technology now causing an imbalance in the workforce where more highly skilled workers are required compared to the lower skilled ones. This type of change is called skilled biased technical change. It is the kind of technological change that raises the demand for highly educated workers typically in STEM fields,” he said.
He stressed that TAMCC is dedicated to creating and enhancing a “world class” highly skilled workforce through apprenticeship.
Owner of Creative Design, Dr. Anselm LaTouche expressed similar sentiments in his address expressing his dedication to the apprenticeship program.
He informed the audience in attendance at the Tourism and Hospitality Building at TAMCC that the graduates are now D Class carpenters and tilers.
He encouraged the graduates to continue developing their skills. “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently,” he said.
Dr. LaTouche pointed out that in Grenada there are job opportunities available in the construction industry as for years, personnel have to be imported from other islands in order to deal with the demands of different worksites.
“The construction industry provides opportunities for sustainable employment and wages. Current demand for skilled workers is at its highest,” he told the participants.
LaTouche also mentioned the value of Computer Science in the industry in keeping up with the change in time.
Senior Technical Advisor and Colleges and Institutes Canada Representative for SAGE, Pat Bidart referred to Grenada as “the most cooperative” when it came to establishing and executing the pilot program.
“Not all employers understand that training young people is going to improve their industry,” she said.
Bihart revealed that Dr. LaTouche himself volunteered to fund the final six months of the project which made it “successful.”
“It is step one but there are pathways to management, pathways to owning your own business. There are all kinds of things that now you could think of… If you get educated, there are so many possibilities. It takes hard work. It takes networking with people you see are doing good or great in the business,” she said.