Women Building Futures and Enbridge partner to train women for careers as field operators
August 17, 2017
EDMONTON, Alberta (August 17, 2017)—Women Building Futures (WBF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Enbridge to train and prepare women for careers in the pipeline operations or construction industries. These careers offer women endless opportunities for training and advancement, an outcome that WBF and Enbridge fully support.
The new 6 week, Construction/Field Operator Readiness program sponsored by Enbridge starts on November 6, 2017 with an application deadline of September 18, 2017. Beginning immediately, WBF will be recruiting 12 women for this program through their proven strategies and activities of awareness, career exploration, assessment, interviews, drug/ alcohol and fitness to work testing, and hands-on skills training at the WBF training centre in Edmonton, Alberta.
“With this new partnership, Enbridge is making a commitment to support the future development of more female leaders within their organization,” said Kathy Kimpton, President & CEO of WBF. “This partnership is completely aligned with our commitment to women to improve the economic prosperity and general wellbeing of women through increased participation in trades and occupations where women are under-represented.”
The Construction/Field Operator Readiness program will prepare women to successfully enter a variety of entry level opportunities including work on maintenance crews and terminal crews as well as pipeline labourer positions with Enbridge’s contractors. These opportunities will lead to long-term careers and/or apprenticeships for successful hires who demonstrate the right attitude and aptitude.
“Developing skills and supporting employment are two of the most sustainable benefits we can offer our communities,” said Susan Larson, Enbridge’s Vice President of Canadian Operations. “At Enbridge, we recognize the value and importance of a diverse workforce and are committed to fostering that within our own organization and communities. This partnership helps us meet that commitment, and we are proud to partner with Women Building Futures on this exciting initiative.”
About Women Building Futures
WBF is Alberta’s premier destination for women who want to discover, pursue and advance in a career in trades. A Social Purpose Organization and registered charity, WBF is valued for its uncompromising approach to meeting the needs of women and industry by recruiting the right people, providing them with the right training and matching them with the right employer. WBF offers women pre-trades competency-based training in welding, steamfitting/pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, carpentry, electrical, heavy equipment operator training and more at the Edmonton, Alberta training centre. WBF has quickly become the go-to place for women interested in a career in the construction trades and for companies wishing to diversify their workforce. For more information, visit www.womenbuildingfutures.com
About Enbridge
Life takes energy. And for more than 65 years, Enbridge has played an essential role in connecting people to the energy they need to live their lives to the fullest. Enbridge is North America’s premier energy infrastructure company with strategic business platforms that include an extensive network of crude oil, liquids and natural gas pipelines, regulated natural gas distribution utilities and renewable power generation. When the energy people invest in life meets the energy we fuel it with, beautiful things happen.
For more information about the program please contact:
Megan Bates
Industry Relations Manager
mbates@womenbuildingfutures.com 780 452 1200
For Media Queries:
Heather Markham
Strategic Communications Manager
Women Building Futures
hmarkham@womenbuildingfutures.com
780 452 1200
Quick Facts
- Women Building Futures empowers women to become economically prosperous in careers in trades and occupations where women are under-represented.
- Women Building Futures operates the WBF Training and Housing Centre in Edmonton Alberta, the first of its kind in Canada.
- Women Building Futures partners with over 300 employers to create diverse, innovative and productive workforces with qualified working women.
- WBF grads experience an average of 132% increase in their income after completing a WBF program.
- Women are 50.7% of the workforce, but only 4-6% of the construction workforce in Canada. Of WBF grads…
- 92% find work in their field.
- 83% are registered as apprentices in their first year.
- 34% are Indigenous women.
