Bakers Journal

New national program for Canadian food and beverage manufacturing promises skilled workforce and improved recruiting and retention strategies

February 15, 2023
By Bakers Journal

Ottawa – Food Processing Skills Canada has announced a new program meant to enhance the skills and employability of people and improve the capacity of  the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry to fill positions through better recruitment, onboarding and retention best practices.

The program, Achieving Our Workforce Destination: Qualified People, Successful Careers & Competitive Business, will enhance the skills and employability of people and improve employers’ capacity to fill positions through better recruitment, onboarding, and retention best practices, the non-profit workforce development organization said in a news release.

The federal government is providing $7.7 million for this project through its Sectoral Workplace Solutions Program that helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs.

“Ensuring a highly competitive Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry demands skilled individuals and exceptional workplaces – Achieving Our Workforce Destination will deliver on both,” said Jennefer Griffith, Executive Director, Food Processing Skills Canada. “Thank you to the Government of Canada for investing in an industry that offers exciting career and business opportunities for Canadians and recent immigrants.”

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The program has several elements:

Rapid Results will establish a new national panel representative of the entire Canadian food and beverage processing industry that will collect real-time data on the key areas relevant today, including recruitment and retention, supply chains, and rising costs. Results will be shared across Canada to provide critical information that will guide labour and employment solutions for the industry.

Skills Training Across Canada will deliver micro-credential training for supervisors to drive new industry leaders and attract the next generation of talent. Comprehensive, online training through a blended learning approach that includes onboarding, goal-driven content, coaching, gamification, and self-directed technical and social emotional learning.

Acahkos emotional intelligence training and coaching will be delivered to senior managers of small to mid-size companies to ensure the industry is at the forefront of management and leadership that values personal growth as much as professional development.

The industry’s first Learning and Recognition Framework will be expanded to provide occupation details, and an accreditation process released to support post-secondary schools, employers and private trainers in aligning skill requirements, competencies and recognition for careers. New and existing FoodCert certifications including Quality Assurance Manager, Meat Cutting Professionals, Fish and Seafood Personnel, and Food Production Supervisor will be made available to employees.

To provide employers with the latest tools an human resources digital toolkit will be populated with interactive micro learning, assessment tools and downloadable training packages. A new Speaking Food livestream series will lead important conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts.

For more information, visit fpsc-ctac.com.

Achieving Our Workforce Destination project partners are Food Producers of Canada, Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada, Fisheries Council of Canada, Canadian Meat Council, BC Food and Beverage, Alberta Food Processors Association, Food and Beverage Manitoba, Food and Beverage Ontario, Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec, Comité sectorial de main-d’oeuvre en transformation alimentaire and Food and Beverage Atlantic.

Food Processing Skills Canada is the food and beverage manufacturing industry’s workforce development organization. As a non-profit, located in Ottawa with representatives across Canada, the organization supports food and beverage manufacturing businesses in developing skilled and professional employees and workplace environments.


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