New Brunswick women interested in getting a head start in the trades are encouraged to apply for the STEPW program.
The Skilled Trades Exploration Program for Women is run by MAP Strategic Workforce Services, a non-profit focused on employment mentorship in New Brunswick.
STEPW is a 16 week program that gives participants experience in various trades, before matching them with employers for apprenticeships.
“We have a lot of women in New Brunswick who might not have been exposed to what a trade career could be,” said Hélène Savoie-Louis, the executive director of MAP.
Savoie-Louis hopes STEPW helps find women with the right competencies, skills, and desire for a career change in order to get into the trades.
“What we’re hoping STEPW does for those women is get them to explore new career paths, and probably a path with good salaries, benefits, and a good career opportunity.”
As opposed to taking courses at a community college, STEPW gives varied exposure to different trades, allowing applicants to find the career that speaks to them over the course of the program.
“(Participants) will go and explore one trade for two, three weeks,” Savoie-Louis said. “And hopefully discover they want to pursue that trade and then get matched with an employer to start their journey.”
Applications for the second STEPW course, set to begin in 2021, are currently being accepted.
Nine women were sponsored for the first installment of the course, and each were hired by JDI upon their completion of the program. JDI has already sponsored five applicants to the 2021 program.
Course organizers hope they are overwhelmed by applications, as there are no limits on course registration.
“What we know in New Brunswick is we’ve been doing poorly for diversity for women in trades,” Savoie-Louis said. “We’re hoping a program like this allows women to explore in a very welcoming environment.”
Applications will be accepted until the end of the month. Interested New Brunswickers can apply by e-mail or by phone at (506)658-8282.
