SGI is funding the pilot for a new pre-employment auto body repair program at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT). The program aims to prepare students for employment opportunities and to increase the number of auto body repair technicians in Saskatchewan.
SGI partnered with SIIT, the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealers Association (SADA) and the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) to develop the new pre-employment auto body repair program for Aboriginal students.
“The program helps address the difficulties SGI and the auto body repair industry are experiencing in recruiting and retaining qualified journeyperson auto body repair technicians,” Minister responsible for SGI Don McMorris said. “This partnership will help attract students to the auto body repair program and ensure there are enough qualified auto body repair technicians in Saskatchewan long term.”
SGI is providing SIIT with almost $80,000 in funding to develop and deliver the program. SGI will also host the first wave of students at its Claims Technical Research facility in Regina, giving them six weeks of hands-on experience. SADA and SAAR provided guidance and expertise for development of the program and will assist graduates with finding employment in the auto body industry.
The 10-week program is designed to prepare Aboriginal people who are interested in a career in the auto body repair industry. It includes eight weeks of training and two weeks of direct work experience in an auto body repair shop.
Students will leave the program with some basic hands-on skills and an understanding of job requirements. The course will also teach them the safety and labour standards related to the job.
Each year, there are more than 200,000 auto damage claims in Saskatchewan.
