Services and Supports

There are services and supports to help you succeed in your path to becoming a journeyperson. Depending on your needs, you’ll need to look in the right location. Here are some resources and guidelines to help you get started.

Apprentice Financial Supports

Review the list of bursaries and grants that are available to apprentices.

Financial Support During Training

Apprentices take a break from their paid job in order to take technical training. To help with the loss of income, financial supports may be available. Getting support with family, housing, or more helps you focus on your training and developing your career.

Essential Skills Upgrading

Essential skills needed in most apprenticeship programs include:

• reading
• active listening and communication
• math, conversions, basic geometry and problem solving
• computer use

These skills help ensure your success as an apprentice and ultimately as a journeyperson. Essential skills training can help if you have been out of school for some time or if you feel that your in-class learning skills are a bit rusty. If you are unsure whether you need this kind of help talk to your Apprenticeship Training Co-ordinator. You may be asked to take an assessment.

Mental Health

Throughout your apprenticeship journey, you can expect to experience a change in your everyday living and working environment. This may represent an increased workload and new expectations. If you’re feeling stress, anxiety or are emotionally unwell, please reach out for help.

Accessibility

People with all different abilities are encouraged to learn more about the skilled trades. Accommodations may be available based on individual needs and can be made to help address and reduce barriers to meaningful participation. Requests for accommodations will be granted on a case-by-case basis and must also be accompanied by an assessment by a medical professional, such as a medical doctor or psychologist.

If you do not already have a medical assessment, you may still apply for apprenticeship without the form and receive additional support through Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM).

To apply for accommodations, submit this form:

In addition, there are national resources available. The Fostering Inclusion in Red Seal Trades (FIRST) program is a nation-wide resource for apprentices with disabilities. FIRST helps by enabling abilities and breaking down barriers. It also offers resources throughout the path to becoming Red Seal certified.

Supports include:

• Financial support for tuition and textbooks
• Networks across Canada
• Workplace and training accommodation support
• Job stability for in-demand industries
• Individualized learning and barrier removal plans

Women in the Trades

Rethinking that the trades are for everybody is positive for the workforce, the economy and for you. Recruiting, training and mentoring women to succeed in trades where they have traditionally been underrepresented opens doors and helps address the shortage of skilled tradespeople in Manitoba.

The Office to Advance Women Apprentices was created to engage and support tradeswomen working in construction trades.

Supports include:

• Connecting tradeswomen to employers
• Career services and employment supports
• Networking opportunities
• Building partnerships with employers, unions, and training providers