TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, tech education leader Lighthouse Labs announced a new initiative named ICT Boost; this project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). Lighthouse Labs will receive just over $21.2 million to lead a consortium of partner post-secondary institutions, as well as industry and community organizations, to bring the ICT Boost program to life.
ICT Boost is part of the Government of Canada’s investment to support demand-driven solutions for sectors hardest hit by the pandemic and those key to economic recovery. The SWSP funding will support equity-deserving communities that have faced significant systemic inequality or other barriers to full and equal participation in the labour market.
“Lighthouse Labs is providing much needed, targeted support to Canadians across the country who have faced barriers to entering the workforce. The training, mentorships and career services offered through ICT Boost will help Canadians secure good jobs in the growing technology sector. Through our Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, we are supporting organizations like Lighthouse Labs in their efforts to help people get the skills they need to find work and succeed in key sectors such as the information and technology field,” says Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough.
Participants will be able to access several Lighthouse Labs programs through ICT Boost, including web development, data science, and cyber security. ICT Boost will also provide post-program support through Lighthouse Labs’ mentor support system, essential skills and non-technical training, tech stipends and career services.
ICT Boost will build an ecosystem of opportunities in the ICT sector. To achieve this, Lighthouse Labs will collaborate with 36+ organizations and select higher education partners across Canada, including McMaster University, Alberta University of Arts, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Mohawk College, University of Guelph, NorQuest College, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology and the University of Victoria. These organizations have built trusted and direct relationships with people from minority groups to provide skills training and wraparound support for participants to enter the ICT sector confidently.
“The tech sector fuels the Canadian economy, and it's critical that we match the rapid growth in the market with future-thinking training opportunities. It should take no one by surprise that there are barriers to entry into tech, which has created an ecosystem that is not reflective of the population of Canada,” says Jeremy Shaki, CEO of Lighthouse Labs. “At Lighthouse Labs, we want to ensure that everyone is well represented in designing and strengthening solutions for our increasingly changing future. With the support of the Government of Canada, ICT Boost will work alongside our partners to provide skills training to enter the workforce and empower students to take advantage of this booming industry."
Lighthouse Labs will work with industry and community partners to promote ICT Boost to its combined extensive network of employers further providing them with diversity and inclusion training. Lighthouse Labs will also involve partners throughout numerous touchpoints in order to foster the employment of ICT Boost graduates and successfully onboard graduates into their new roles.
ICT Boost has already begun partnering with a minimum of eight post-secondary institutions and 18 non-profit organizations. The program will run until March 2024. For more information on ICT Boost, please visit: lighthouselabs.ca/ict-boost
About ICT Boost
Across Canada, there is a demand for skilled workers in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. With tech-enabled change comes opportunities for all. ICT Boost empowers and provides skills training to equity-deserving backgrounds in Canada who face higher barriers to entering the ICT workforce. Tech education leader Lighthouse Labs through ICT Boost will lead a consortium of partner post-secondary institutions, as well as industry and community organizations, to bring the programming to life. The program will equip over 1,700 individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the ICT sector.
ICT Boost Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP)
About Lighthouse Labs
Lighthouse Labs was launched in 2013 with the goal of finding innovative ways to train the next generation of tech talent. In an age of technological disruption across every industry, our mission is to give our students the skills they need to find long-lasting careers in a digital workforce. Eight years later, we’ve delivered hands-on tech education to over 40,000 students, equipping them with the relevant tools to thrive in the future of work. Through a unique approach to education and with the support of a brilliant team of instructors and mentors, we continue to empower students and launch careers.
