….Employers will provide participants with work experience after training
Ballad Group, a workforce development and consultancy firm in Canada, is launching an 11-week career programme called AgriEdge for immigrants, providing them with the opportunity to be paired with partner employers for a 3-week work experience, with the possibility of permanent employment.
The programme will equip skilled immigrants to be job-market-ready, as they get specialised knowledge in agri-business financial management, financial statement analysis, budgeting, risk management, and employment readiness.
These sessions will be delivered in-person in Downtown Calgary, and will be conducted in collaboration with the Government of Alberta and developed alongside academic institutions like Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. The initiative aims to deliver comprehensive employment support services.
Participants will gain access to an array of resources, professional certifications, and networking opportunities, designed to enhance their expertise and employability within the agricultural sector.
Who the training is for
The programme is tailored for immigrants, Canadian citizens, or permanent residents of Canada residing in Alberta.
- Should have prior education and/or experience in a specific occupation.
- Immigrants requiring assistance to bridge gaps in the knowledge or skills to secure employment in their field or another related occupation into which their skills can transfer
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Applicants must be unemployed or underemployed (working fewer than 20 hours per week).
Curriculum overview
The curriculum comprises of a range of specialised modules aimed at equipping participants with essential skills for the agricultural business sector.
The key topics are:
Financial statement analysis: Participants will learn the techniques of how to convert cash-based income statements into accrual-based formats, analyse various financial documents, and calculate returns on labour, management, and investment.
Budgeting: This training will focus on classifying decision-making costs, determining cost-to-revenue ratios, and creating detailed, comprehensive budgets.
Risk management: Here, attendees will explore the concepts of risk and uncertainty, as well as develop and assess strategies to effectively manage these challenges.
In addition to these core modules, the programme will feature sessions on orientation, goal-setting, and transferable skills.
Further training will include employment readiness, agriculture and finance, business administration, sales, and leadership.
The course concludes with a three-week practical work placement, providing hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
This well-rounded approach will ensure that participants gain the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to thrive in the agricultural business industry.
Professional certifications
Upon completion of the program, here are the certificates that will be obtained:
- Agri-Business financial management certificate of completion from Olds College
- Solutions focused selling certificate from FSC Group
- Understanding your leadership style from FSC Group
- SAGE 50 course certificate from SAGE University
- MS Office suite course certificate from Microsoft
Career opportunities
- Customer service representative (Financial institutions)
- Technical sales specialist (Wholesale trade)
- Administrative officers & assistants
- General office support workers
- Accounting & related clerks
- Financial sales representative
Post-training employment opportunities
Upon conclusion of the training, participants will have the chance to undertake a probationary period for two to four weeks with employer partners based in Edmonton or Calgary.
During this time, Ballad will provide pre-arranged Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
While on placement, participants will gain valuable hands-on work experience and benefit from guest lectures delivered by the employers themselves. These sessions will allow participants to further develop their knowledge and skills under the guidance of industry professionals.
Upon completing the practicum, some participants may be offered extended employment opportunities, subject to the discretion of the employer, which will bridge the gap between training and long-term career prospects.
Interested applicants can register here
