Workplace Training for Small Businesses

ANN CURRY

IN SASKATCHEWAN, THE BIG QUESTION is how to get essential workplace skills training to small workplaces, since they make up the majority of businesses here (74% of businesses have five or fewer workers while 94% have fewer than 50). A small workplace magnifies the time, personnel, and resource constraints of large companies, with the result that essential workplace skills training may not even be considered an option leading to business and personal success. The difficulty of providing training to small workplaces, however, does not mean that we shouldn’t try. In 2001, with special funding from the National Literacy Secretariat, the Learning at Work project of the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board (SLFDB) established six pilot projects around the province, all with different partners, but with a community-driven plan of action. The purpose of these pilots was to understand how to promote essential workplace skills training to the small workplace and how the small workplace could best access this training.

Six Diverse Projects

A brief description of each pilot will illustrate the diversity of approaches possible as well as the variety of training needs and partnerships used:

Estevan — Several partners (e.g., Saskatchewan Rural Resource Centre, the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan, Chamber of Commerce, and Regional College) were involved in the planning, promotion, and delivery. The focus was on “soft skills” (e.g., Interpersonal skills/communication) as a result of a survey about training needs done by the Chamber. The delivery was a series of six Lunch and Learn events with both local and more high-profile speakers brought into the community for the events. Local businesses had to commit to sending at least one person to each event; 22 businesses (44 participants) were involved.

Swift Current — The local partner was a private training company with the support/advice of the Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneurial Centre. The focus of the training was assistance to individual workplaces on using the Guide to Essential Workplace Skills, a self-assessment tool for use in the workplace. The delivery was in the form of visits to the workplace by the trainer with one-on-one discussions with employers.

Saskatoon — The partner was a community-based literacy organization, READ Saskatoon, with facilities support provided by the Saskatoon Public Library and training support from volunteer tutors. The training focus was on writing for the workplace, and individuals signed up as a result of advertising in a variety of media. The delivery was a series of workshops provided by an instructor and volunteers, using individual, small group, and whole class instruction.