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OTTAWA, ON – January 24, 2022 – Today, BioTalent Canada announced the launch of a new program: the Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy program that will provide employers with funds to integrate skilled newcomers and internationally educated professionals (IEPs) into the Canadian bio-economy. The $2.9M project helps bio-economy employers access skilled individuals they might not have otherwise considered for roles.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy provides employers with 75% of a participant’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 for a three to nine-month job placement.
“Newcomers and IEPs make up only 26% of our industry which is facing a shortage of 65,000 workers by the end of the decade, according to a recently released National Labour Market Information (LMI) study,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “Programs like Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy are vital resources for an industry that has long relied on antiquated human resources and arm’s-length recruitment which severely limit the talent pool.”
One of the biggest obstacles newcomers and IEPs face when they come to Canada is having their skills recognized by employers. With that understanding, Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy provides participants with access to the BioSkills Recognition Program upon completion of their placement. They’re also granted free enrolment in BioTalent Canada’s Essential Skills and Technical Skills Fundamentals training. All of this helps newcomers and IEPs become BioReady™ and builds confidence in employers to hire them full-time.
“The BioReady™ designation helps employers recognize the competencies that newcomers are able to demonstrate,” says Iona Santos-Fresnoza, Program Lead at IEC-BC, a non-profit organization that connects employers to immigrant talent. “And it has worked for our FAST participants. We have clients who’ve said that getting the BioReady™ certificate was actually a crucial piece in their getting hired.”
“Attracting talent from around the world is essential to Canada’s economic growth and addressing labour shortages. That’s why we’re investing in BioTalent Canada, to help connect hard-working newcomers with skills development and job opportunities in the science sectors across the country.”
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
The Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy program runs through October 2023 and aims to place more than 165 newcomers and IEPs with small- and medium-sized enterprises across Canada.
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About BioTalent Canada
BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada is focused on igniting the industry’s brainpower bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency, and sustainability of one of Canada’s most vital sectors.
Recently named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada with 10-50 employees and certified as a Great Place to Work® for 2021, BioTalent Canada practices the same industry standards it recommends to its stakeholders. These distinctions were awarded to BioTalent Canada following a thorough and independent survey analysis conducted by Great Place to Work®.
For more information, please visit biotalent.ca.
About Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy
Skilled Newcomer Internship for the Bio-economy opens to the door, and offers valuable work experience, to newcomers and internationally educated professionals (IEPs). The program provides employers with up to 75% of a participant’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 for a three- to nine-month placement. It helps employers access talented individuals they might not have otherwise considered for roles. All participants receive free enrolment in BioTalent Canada’s suite of Essential Skills and Technical Skills training courses and, upon completion, gain access to the BioSkills Recognition Program.
To learn more visit biotalent.ca/skillednewcomers.
Media Inquiries
Siobhan Williams
Director, Marketing and Communications
BioTalent Canada
613-235-1402 ext. 229
swilliams@biotalent.ca
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