November 12, 2026

TradeUpBC Partners Expand Trades Training, Supporting New Workers and Those Who Lead Them

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New trades training seats at several TradeUpBC partner institutes are opening more opportunities for people to build careers in British Columbia's skilled trades. The expansion also highlights the role these institutions play throughout a trades career, including helping experienced workers develop the skills to lead teams and share their knowledge.

Vancouver Community College (VCC), the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) are adding training seats through the Province's Look West strategy. All three are partners in TradeUpBC's network, connecting tradespeople with opportunities for continued learning as their careers develop. Other TradeUpBC partner institutes that added trades training seats earlier in 2026 include Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Island University, and Okanagan College.

The announcements are part of a provincial commitment to add 5,000 trades training seats in 2026–27, supported by a $241-million investment over three years. The expansion aims to reduce apprenticeship waitlists, increase access to training and help meet demand for skilled workers.

At VCC, 224 new seats will bring total trades training capacity to more than 1,770 seats this year. The expansion includes training in automotive service technician, construction electrician, heavy mechanical trades, and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic.

"Expanding training opportunities will help more learners build rewarding careers while addressing workforce needs across the province," said Ajay Patel, VCC president and CEO.

BCIT is adding 272 seats as part of the Look West expansion. Its announcement also identifies nearly 900 additional seats added in response to demand. Expanded capacity includes occupations such as carpenter, industrial mechanic (millwright), marine mechanical technician, plumber and sheet metal worker.

At TRU in Kamloops, more than 800 new seats will bring total trades training capacity to nearly 2,400 seats this year. The expansion will help people in the Thompson-Okanagan train closer to home in occupations including construction electrician, carpenter, heavy mechanical trades, plumber and welder.

For TradeUpBC, these announcements highlight the value of post-secondary partners that support learning at different stages of a trades career. A person may begin at an institute as a foundation student or apprentice and return later to develop a technical specialty, strengthen business skills or prepare for a leadership role.

As more learners enter workplaces, experienced tradespeople will play an important role in helping them put their training into practice. Journeypersons, supervisors, and workplace mentors share practical knowledge, demonstrate safe work habits, and help newer workers build confidence and sound judgement.

That creates a potential connection between a growing trades workforce and professional development for the people guiding it. Experienced workers taking on greater responsibility may benefit from training in communication, supervision, conflict resolution and teaching others.

Strong technical skills provide an essential foundation. Leading a crew also involves explaining expectations clearly, giving useful feedback, organizing work and helping people with different levels of experience work effectively together. Professional development gives tradespeople opportunities to build those skills alongside their trade expertise.

One example is TRU's How to Be a Better Foreperson course, listed on the TradeUpBC website. The course covers field leadership, organization, crew morale and productivity, along with approaches to workplace conflict and anticipating job-site issues. It illustrates how a TradeUpBC partner can support both people learning a trade and experienced workers preparing to lead.

Expanding trades training capacity may also increase the need for qualified instructors, creating opportunities for experienced tradespeople interested in sharing their expertise in a classroom or workshop. VCC's Trades Instructor Short Certificate introduces teaching techniques and approaches for vocational and trades training, while BCIT's Associate Certificate in Polytechnic Teaching helps current and aspiring instructors develop skills in teaching, assessment and applied learning. Both programs, listed on TradeUpBC, offer ways for tradespeople to build on their industry experience and prepare to help train the next generation.

The new seats are intended to expand trades training capacity and access to apprenticeship programs. From TradeUpBC's perspective, a potential longer-term benefit is the opportunity for continued learning as that workforce grows, both for new entrants developing their careers and experienced workers supporting them.

TradeUpBC connects experienced tradespeople and employers with professional development courses and microcredentials offered by post-secondary partners. Whether the goal is to supervise a crew, strengthen a business, update technical knowledge, or explore teaching, continued learning can help tradespeople prepare for their next step.

As VCC, BCIT, and TRU welcome more trades learners, their broader role remains important: helping people build skills they can draw on throughout their working lives. For experienced tradespeople, that includes opportunities to grow their own careers while helping the next generation succeed.

Explore professional development courses and microcredentials at TradeUpBC.