The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) has recently launched a program to support women in the skilled trades in developing their mentorship skills. 

The National Mentor Development Program for Women in the Skilled Trades was created in response to feedback gathered from over 300 tradeswomen, many of whom identified mentorship support as one of their most pressing needs. The program, led by mentorship experts and tradeswomen coaches from manufacturing and construction, aims to help women in skilled trades become effective mentors and improve retention rates within the industry. 

Program Manager Stephanie Shurm says the launch has been well-received, and participant numbers have surpassed goals by a significant margin. Shurm explains that the mentorship program is designed to accomplish several goals, “Our intention is to provide a program that not only develops or enhances the skills necessary to be an effective mentor, but to also help increase the confidence of those who join our program.” she says.  “We hope that the women in the program graduate feeling a sense of accomplishment and are inspired to mentor others within the trades.  We hope that the participants feel a sense of community and carry that with them into their own workplaces.  If our program assists the participants in not only feeling more confident and less isolated within the trades but allows them to carry that forward to those whom they mentor, that will be a great success.”

Currently, women represent just 5% of the skilled trades—a category that also includes hairdressing, which is 84% female. Several programs are designed to entice women into trade and apprenticeship programs, but graduation rates for female apprentices are significantly lower than those of their male counterparts. 

Retention data from the National Apprenticeship Survey show that women in trades are more likely to quit a job due to discrimination than men. This program is designed to foster the growth and success of women in traditionally male-dominated fields by creating mentors within the trades that they can look up to for support and guidance.

CAF says the mentorship program “strives to establish a strong support network that offers coaching and showcases positive role models. The goal of the program is to enhance the retention and career advancement opportunities for women in the trades through creating effective mentors and, subsequently, mentorship relationships.”

The program’s first round kicked off on May 6 and will wrap up in early September. The four-month virtual course is comprised of five modules:

• Mentorship vision: Setting the course 
• Crafting connection: Building strong mentorships
• Navigating dialogue: Effective mentorship communication 
• Wellness and work: Fostering a supportive environment
• Passing the torch: Knowledge, careers, and celebrations 

Each module takes roughly six hours to complete and includes a discussion post, a journey entry, and a two-hour virtual discussion followed by a final presentation. During the program, each participant is also assigned a coach who is currently working in the trades. The coach will meet with participants weekly to support their progress and offer advice. 

The National Mentor Development Program for Women in the Skilled Trades welcomes women and gender-diverse individuals in the final year of their apprenticeship or journeypersons in a construction or manufacturing trade. To apply to the program as a participant or a coach, contact https://leadership.caf-fca.org/.