Npower Canada launches youth programs
Non-profit company aims to help budding tech students gain employment
Npower Canada is launching two free programs to help young Edmontonians facing barriers to employment careers in tech.
The junior IT analyst and junior data analyst programs, which have been offered in Calgary since 2019, will now be available in Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge.
“Our goal is to help young people who haven't found their footing in the labour market and who are in real need of sustainable employment with a pathway to get into a career requiring digital skills that has strong future growth prospects,” said Andrew Reddin, chief operating officer of Npower Canada.
The non-profit company aims to help 80 per cent of its graduates get a job or enrol in higher education within 12 months of completing the program. Reddin said the Calgary program recently exceeded those goals.
“For our December 2020 graduates, as of now 83 per cent are employed and a further 10 per cent are enrolled in higher education,” said Reddin, noting those numbers are because of partnerships with employers.
Both programs run for 15 weeks and are offered to people between the ages of 17 and 30. Courses will continue to be taught virtually amid the COVID -19 pandemic.
Reddin said 80 per cent of students in these programs are Black, Indigenous and people of colour and one-third are newcomers.
“Often, these are young people who have completed high school or may have had to drop out of high school and complete their GED at a later date and, in some cases, they have started post-secondary education but have often had to put their studies on hold mainly for financial reasons,” said Reddin.
Students who graduate from the IT program will leave with a Google IT support professional certification, while those in the data analyst program, which is in partnership with Microsoft, will leave with an IBM data analyst certification.
Allyn Abanes, 24, said she wouldn't have her current job if it weren't for Npower.
“When I got an interview with the company I currently work for, they kind of stepped in, helped me with mock interviews, took a look at my resumé again and refined some things to give me the best shot to get into the company,” said the 2020 Calgary graduate.
In addition to helping her get into her dream field, Abanes said Npower helped her financially and with her mental health management when she was worried about paying bills and finishing the program.
Those interested in applying can do so by visiting npowercanada.ca/ apply.
Npower also runs programs in Ontario and Nova Scotia and is launching its first in B.C. next month.