The code for success: Youth tech training organization is gearing young people up for a changing workplace

Although he was studying computer science and business at Brock University, Ray Keating admits he never completely clicked with computer coding. 

“I actually never really had a passion for programming,” he said. 

That changed after his involvement with the Youth Skills Studio (YSS), a program run by Lincoln-based Civiconnect and supported by the Town of Lincoln. It’s funded through provincial and federal grants. 

The YSS helped spark his interest, by having him build interesting, relevant things for real-world clients. He said he learned lots, especially about web development. And although he isn’t quite sure where his career will go now that he has graduated from Brock, he is sure that programming will play a big part in it.

The Lincoln-based youth-training organization is getting young people like Keating ready for the changing workplace while providing a much-needed service to local businesses.

Those participating in the course are called associates rather than learners and are treated like employees. They work on projects for clients and are paid. The wages are covered in part by the federal Student Work Placement Program.

Keating said he believes the job market has changed from the previous generation, and the YSS helps to get youth into a job market which, for professional and technical jobs, is difficult.

“It used to be that if you get out of school with the right grades then it would be easy (to get a job),” he said. “We know that’s not how it works.”

He said that jobs expect you to be pre-trained, which is difficult to achieve when you don’t have the time or resources to do so. It was hard for Keating to develop the skills alongside his job delivering pizzas.

“I don’t know if I would have those skills without a bridge,” he said. For him, YSS is that bridge.

Nour Hage, president of Civiconnect, said the program takes on youth, typically between 18 and 25 years old — though sometimes up to 30 — and focuses on integrated learning: learning by doing.

“The work itself is the way they learn,” he said. The associates, supported by managers with five to 10 years of industry experience, provide services to businesses at below market rate, providing the associates with real-world experience while improving businesses’ digital presence.

Andrea Darvich, who owns Beamsville restaurant Fusion Latina with her husband Iovel, was one business owner who benefitted from the program.

She opened Fusion Latina last year but admitted that her knowledge of digital marketing, a crucial skill in this day and age, was nonexistent.

However, Cameron Rotz, economic development assistant at Lincoln, suggested she get in touch with Civiconnect about the YSS. She did, and now they have a brand-new website which she’s happy with.

“We’re just so grateful,” said Darvich. “(The town and YSS) knew we had no experience (but said) ‘let’s help these guys make their dream come true … I’ll never forget that.”

It’s not only practical skills that the associates learn, said Hage. YSS also features a 15-week soft skills program, teaching associates the skills Hage said he always heard businesses complain about young people lacking, such as working in teams.

And for another client, the Upper Canada Cheese Company in Jordan, that was immediately apparent.

Jennifer Hart, general manager of the company, said that she was impressed by the professionalism of the associates. She said that although the associates were young, they produced work and presented in a professional manner.

“If I hadn’t known this was a training program, I would have been surprised to find out,” she said.

She said that from an employer’s perspective, the young people are learning the skills that they don’t learn in the classrooms, giving them experience that she said they might lack when newly out of school.

“I really feel as though it was absolutely beneficial for both sides,” she said. “I would support more programs like this.”

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: After hearing about the Youth Skills Studio, Niagara this Week looked at how it’s helping equip young people with the skills they need for a changing workforce while helping businesses adapt to the digital world.

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