This fall through 2008, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) is holding a series of Employer Engagement Forums across the country. The forums are a part of CAF-FCA’s ongoing employer engagement strategy. Their goal is to initiate, in collaboration with regional partners, constructive dialogue with employers about apprenticeship training as a profitable investment. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to increase apprenticeship training opportunities, which may include influencing employers to hire more apprentices.

By March 2008, the CAF-FCA will hold three pilot forum events across the country with different industries. The first forum will focus on employers in the construction industry. The two other forums will focus on employers in different industries. The majority of employers attending the forums will not currently employ apprentices. By engaging regional partners, the CAF-FCA may also influence the strategies of others.

To ensure these Employer Engagement Forums are a success, the CAF-FCA has done research on effective employer engagement strategies used by other training organizations in Canada. Since published information on employer engagement strategies in Canada was limited, based on the sources examined, other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were examined. Based on findings from all three countries, a list of the best practices was devised. These best practices have influenced the way the forums have been organized. The CAF-FCA gathered statistical economic information from data collected by provincial Ministries of Finance and Stats Canada to determine which provinces and industries should be the focus of the forums. In addition, CAF-FCA has sought out partnerships with relevant employer associations and others that have provided valuable contacts with employers and advice on local industry conditions.

Employers and the host organizations will discuss:

	Some of the findings of the CAF-FCA’s groundbreaking study “Apprenticeship – Building a skilled workforce for a strong bottom line” which found that apprenticeship training is a profitable investment;
	How hiring apprentices enhances business performance;
	A presentation by Adwoa Buahene, a leading expert in the field of recruitment and retention, on generational differences and how they may impact your ability to hire and retain today’s skilled tradespeople; and
	Perspectives on future research and information that will address the realities of their business.

The findings of these national forums will culminate into a report which will be released in 2008. For more information, please contact Project Manager Emily Arrowsmith at: Emily_Arrowsmith@caf-fca.org or at 613-235-4004 ext. 201.