(647) 723-6930 Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00 116 Industry St, Unit 208, Toronto, ON

Future Trainees

 

 

 

Paid Program

Earn while you learn. $15 per hour for 12 of the 16 week program.

Hands On

Hands on experience working directly with trades employers.

Start Career

80% of graduates are working successfully in trades careers.

About the Program

Building Up’s pre-apprenticeship program is a 16 week paid training program that uses construction contracts and in-class training to prepare individuals facing barriers to employment for successful careers in the trades. Participants are paid $16.55 per hour for the 16 weeks and are required to be available from Monday to Friday between 7:30 AM to 4:00PM for the duration of the program. Our 16 week program is divided into 2 sections: 8 weeks of in-class training and 8 weeks of in the field work experience. 

8 weeks of in-class training – working directly with unions and trades employers

  • Essential skills: Trades math, reading comprehension and soft skills training.
  • Trades skills: Power tools, drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing, etc.
  • Health and Safety: Every trainee is provided with the health and safety certificates and Personal Protective Equipment required by employers:  WHIMS, Working At Heights, Elevated Work Platforms, PPE, etc.
  • Tools: Every trainee is provided with a core set of tools to help them in their trades careers. 

8 weeks of work placement

  • Water retrofits: Participants replace old inefficient water fixtures  (toilets, showerheads and aerators) with highly efficient upgrades that save affordable housing buildings millions of dollars annually on utility bills. 
  • General Labour: Participants are placed on a variety of social enterprise contracts that provide a basis for punctuality, professionalism and work ethic. 
  • General Contracting: Participants work under experienced tradespeople to undertake renovations that benefit community.

To Apply for any of the programs listed below – Please click on the apply button below. If you are having difficulties filling out the online application you can get in contact with our Outreach Manager, Melisa Savone, ([email protected]) for assistance. 

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Participants
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Union Partners
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Paid Training Hours

Upcoming Intakes

January 26th 2024: REFUGEE & REFUGEE CLAIMANT COHORT | 18+

Eligibility Requirements: Must be over the age of 18. A convention refugee or refugee claimant with a work permit and SIN. 

  • Mandatory Information Session: Friday, January 26th 2024 8:30am OR 1:30pm IN PERSON (SPACES ARE LIMITED)
  • Application Deadline: Friday, January 19th 2024 or sooner depending on spaces
  • Interviews: Throughout the week January 29th 2024
  • Final Cohort Selection: Friday, February 2nd 2024
  • Program Details: 14 week program, full-time, in person starting Monday, February 12th 2024
  • Deadline to submit all the required documents: Friday,  January 19th by 5:00pm

March 25th 2024: ALL AGES COHORT | 18+

Eligibility Requirements: Must be over the age of 18. A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or convention refugee with a favourable Notice of Decision letter, SIN, and work permit.

  • Mandatory Information Session: Monday, March 25th 2024 at 8:30am, ONLINE on Zoom
  • Application Deadline: Friday, March 15th 2024 by 5pm
  • Interviews: Throughout the week of March 25th 2024
  • Final Cohort Selection: Friday, March 29th 2024
  • Program Details: 16 week program, full-time, in person starting Monday, April 8th 2024
  • Deadline to submit all the required documents: Friday,  March 22nd by 5:00pm

Interview Process and Intake Week

Building Up’s intake and interview process is one week long. A typical intake week looks like this:

Monday – Information Session  

We start with an Information Session, which is mandatory for all candidates to attend. If you do not attend the Information Session, you will not be eligible to participate in interviews. 

To register for one of our Information Sessions, please “apply” on our website, once you apply you will receive a Zoom registration link for our Information Session. 

If you don’t have zoom, please download at zoom.us/download so you can attend. Please ensure you do this well in advance of the session.

 Tuesday and Wednesday – First Interview

We conduct first round interviews over Zoom. Candidates are expected to have their cameras on and able to video with the Building Up team throughout the interview.  If this is not possible, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate. 

Thursday – Hands-On Interview

As Building Up is a pre-apprenticeship construction training program, we include a “hands-on” interview component of the intake process. We invite candidates to one of our job sites to work for several hours so they can demonstrate their work ethic to our team.

Friday – Final Interviews and Cohort Selection

Successful candidates will be asked to participate in a second and final interview, also conducted by Zoom.  At the end of the day, the Building Up team will deliberate and make the final selection for the upcoming cohort! Good luck!

General Eligibility

Please pay close attention to our “Upcoming Intake Dates” above as we have listed specific eligibility that is unique to each intake.

If you are over 18 years of age, you are welcome to apply to our program. We welcome those individuals who are on Employment Insurance (EI), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), or Ontario Works (OW).  

For those who are currently receiving Ontario Works, please pay close attention to the eligibility information provided below as we periodically provide special programming exclusively for OW recipients.

Required Documentation

Please note that all candidates wishing to be considered for an interview must provide the documents listed below ahead of the information session.  If you are missing one or more documents from the list, please get in contact with us by emailing melis[email protected] and we can discuss your unique situation.

  • High School Transcript | This is required even if you have not graduated from high school or completed it internationally
  • Government Issued Photo ID | Health cards are not accepted: driver’s license, Ontario photo ID, status card, valid passport, are all accepted
  • SIN card/slip
  • For Canadian Citizens: Proof of Canadian citizenship | Either a birth certificate, valid/non-expired Canadian passport, or citizenship card/certificate
  • For Permanent Residents: Proof of PR status | Either your PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document
  • For Refugees: Notice of Decision letter, SIN, and work permit