Google.org invests $2.5M with NPower Canada to upskill youth for the future of work

Monday, February 10, 2020 10:22:00 AM

- Tech giant makes philanthropic investment in Canada, to upskill young Canadians for transformative careers in tech. -

NPower Canada and Google.org announced that they have partnered to upskill 1,700 low-income, diverse young adults for transformative careers in information technology. Through this effort Google.org is making a $2,500,000 CAD grant to support NPower Canada's work launching underserved young adults into meaningful and sustainable tech careers.

"This partnership with Google is transformational for NPower Canada in that it allows us to provide vital in-demand skills and opportunities to more barriered youth across Canada," says NPower Canada CEO Julia Blackburn. "We will be better able to support youth to launch meaningful careers, while also helping to address the tech skills gap and provide companies with the junior-level IT talent they need."

"We're investing directly in programs that support digital skills training for all Canadians," says Sabrina Geremia, VP of Google Canada. "We're excited to partner with NPower Canada, which has a strong track-record of supporting successful digital careers in IT, and meeting the ongoing demands of Canadian employers."

NPower Canada will pilot, test and integrate the Google IT Support Professional Certificate and the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate into its program offerings, providing scholarships, instructional support, and wraparound support for 1,700 learners. This enhancement to NPower Canada's curriculum further supports individuals in pre-employment programs with the certifications needed to secure their first IT jobs and will also upskill program alumni to advance in their tech careers.

"Every sector of the Canadian economy is being re-shaped by technology and the nature of work is changing," says Stephen Gardiner, NPower Canada Board Chair. "This investment from Google positions NPower Canada to ensure young workers have the skills and mindset to participate and succeed in the digital economy."

This grant also supports the expansion of NPower Canada's programs and impact to Halifax and Vancouver in 2021. Currently NPower Canada operates programs in the Greater Toronto Area and Calgary, delivering a sector-based workforce development program that directly places low-income young adults into meaningful employment by equipping them with the skills required for in-demand technology roles.

While sector-based workforce development has emerged over the past 15 years as a leading evidence-based, outcome-focused approach to employing multi-barriered job seekers in the United States, this model is fairly new and remains rare in Canada. NPower Canada's unique approach to workforce development has seen 1,398 youth graduate from its programs in the last 5 years, with 80% of graduates securing junior-level IT employment within 6 months, often lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.

SOURCE: NPower Canada