Building tomorrow's workforce: $1.6 million per year in bursaries for skilled trades students at NSCC
Empowering the next generation of tradespeople
A partnership between NSCC and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA) is offering 320 bursaries valued at $5,000 each to students entering high-skill skilled trades programs at the College for September 2024. The new Growing Nova Scotia’s Skilled Trades Workforce Bursary aims to remove financial barriers and encourage more Nova Scotians to pursue careers in high-demand construction trades.
This initiative goes beyond tuition, it includes wrap-around supports for students in skilled trades and supports the creation of youth and newcomer camps designed to explore a career in skilled trades. The wrap-around supports include urgent aid, college and job readiness funding and tailored cultural supports. This innovative approach provides students with what they need so they can focus on their program and are ready to hit the ground running upon graduation.
Breaking down barriers to education
The bursary is open to full-time students in financial need who are enrolled in the first year of eligible programs at any NSCC campus. As of March 2021, equity-deserving groups that traditionally face barriers to employment or education make up 20.5% of apprentices in Nova Scotia (NSAA 2022-23 Statistics Report). The bursary aims to remove these barriers by giving preference to students from equity-deserving groups, including Mi'kmaw/Indigenous people, Black/African Nova Scotians, racially visible individuals, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, women, and newcomers.
Michelle Bussey, CEO of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, states, "By offering financial support to pre-apprenticeship students, with a preference for equity-deserving students, we are not only building a skilled workforce to strengthen our province's growth, but also working collectively to create a more vibrant and representative community within the trades."
Building a diverse and skilled workforce
This $3.2-million investment is part of a larger $100 million initiative by the Government of Nova Scotia to recruit, retain, and train more people in skilled trades. It is coming at a time of growth and development for the province, which is striving to double its population by 2060. The program not only offers financial support but also the opportunity for renewal in the second year of studies, ensuring continued support for students throughout their education.
Andrew Lafford, Vice-President of Academic at NSCC, emphasizes the impact of this partnership: "There is a growing need for skilled trades professionals, and this is a critical time to offer support for people pursuing careers in this sector. This partnership and bursary will make an incredible impact and pose a bright future for skilled trades careers in Nova Scotia.”
This partnership between NSCC and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency represents a significant step towards building a more diverse, skilled, and robust workforce in Nova Scotia's construction sector.
Learn more about the bursary and its eligible programs today.
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