Workforce WindsorEssex Hosts Growing Your Workforce Conference & Launches WEsearch Business Support Tool to Help Employers, Entrepreneurs, & the Local Labour Market – November 22, 2024

Annual conference focuses on addressing workforce development and providing solutions to local labour market challenges; WEsearch outlines available services, funding, and resources for employers in Windsor-Essex

Workforce WindsorEssex, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering workforce development and growth, is proud to host the annual Growing Your Workforce Conference, taking place Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. As part of the Growing Your Workforce Conference, Workforce WindsorEssex launched the updated business support tool, WEsearch, designed to empower local employers and entrepreneurs by identifying local, provincial, and national services and resources. This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

The Growing Your Workforce Conference focuses on addressing workforce development challenges and opportunities across Southwestern Ontario, and is a vital platform for bringing together partners, including employers, service providers, institutions, and decision-makers. It is an event where ideas are exchanged, best practices are shared, and solutions are crafted to address the pressing issues facing our workforce, talent pipelines, and local labour markets.

The two-day conference features keynote speaker Blake Melnick, Chief Knowledge Officer, Knowledge Management Institute of Canada / Principal Catalyst Workplace Partnerships, Workplace Innovation Network for Canada, who will speak on The Skills, Experience, Knowledge, and Mindset for Innovation.

Other panels include Creating Skills-Aligned Opportunity for Newcomers, Rural Solutions to Bridging Program Gaps, Transforming Workplaces Through Disability Inclusion, Learning Must Be Greater Than The Rate of Change, AI and the Future Workforce: Navigating the New Age of Collaboration, ApprenticeSearch & Experiential Learning in the Trades, Bridge-Building from Campus to Career, Service Systems Managers for Employment Ontario, Growing a More Innovative Regional Workforce, DisruptHR, and The Future of Talent and Economic Development in the Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry. Also featured is a live recording of the Mean Median Moose Podcast.

WEsearch simplifies the task of researching programs and services so employers and entrepreneurs can focus on what matters most – growing their business. The user-friendly and free-to-use tool provides streamlined access to the information and support necessary for businesses to thrive, all in one centralized platform.

Entrepreneurship in Windsor-Essex has been experiencing growth and change in recent years. New programs to support start-ups, business expansions, product development, and more are available in Windsor-Essex, though many local employers and entrepreneurs are often unaware of these vital resources. This leads to many programs being underutilized and employers remaining in need.

WEsearch includes hundreds of supports available to businesses for a variety of service areas, including financing, exporting and importing, product development, business and legal services, human resources, and commercialization. Increasing awareness and use of these programs will improve business outcomes for many employers in our community.

As of June 2024, Windsor-Essex has over 40,000 businesses, over 27,000 of which have no employees. For those that are owner-operators of their businesses, it can be stressful and overwhelming to find resources to support business needs while also doing daily operations.

Employers and entrepreneurs are encouraged to take advantage of WEsearch to uncover new pathways for business development and success. By harnessing the capabilities of WEsearch, businesses can gain a competitive edge, optimize their operations, and contribute to Windsor-Essex’s economic growth.

Quotes:

“Workforce WindsorEssex is thrilled to host the Growing Your Workforce Conference. This event is crucial for fostering collaboration among key community partners, including employers, service providers, institutions, and decision-makers, to tackle workforce development challenges and seize opportunities in Southwestern Ontario. In partnership with Workforce Planning West, the Growing Your Workforce Conference aims to inspire innovative solutions and share best practices to strengthen our local labour markets.”

– Sarah Robson, Communications and Events Lead, Workforce WindsorEssex

<< Workforce WindsorEssex est ravi d’accueillir la conférence ‘Growing Your Workforce’. Cet événement est crucial pour favoriser la collaboration entre les principaux partenaires communautaires, y compris les employeurs, les fournisseurs de services, les institutions et les décideurs, afin de relever les défis du développement de la main-d’œuvre et de saisir les opportunités dans le Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario. En partenariat avec Workforce Planning West, la conférence ‘Growing Your Workforce’ vise à inspirer des solutions innovantes et à partager les meilleures pratiques pour renforcer nos marchés du travail locaux. >>

– Sarah Robson, Chef des communications et des événements, Workforce WindsorEssex

“WEsearch is a crucial development tool for Windsor-Essex employers and entrepreneurs, offering a one-stop solution for those seeking to enhance their operations and seize new opportunities. WEsearch will not only support the growth of our local economy by assisting businesses in finding relevant resources, but also foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.“

– Tashlyn Teskey, Senior Manager of Research and Innovation, Workforce WindsorEssex

<< WEsearch est un outil de développement essentiel pour les employeurs et entrepreneurs de Windsor-Essex, offrant une solution unique pour ceux qui cherchent à améliorer leurs opérations et à saisir de nouvelles opportunités. WEsearch soutiendra non seulement la croissance de notre économie locale en aidant les entreprises à trouver des ressources pertinentes, mais favorisera également l’innovation et l’entrepreneuriat dans la région. >>

– Tashlyn Teskey, Gestionnaire principale de la recherche et de l’innovation, Workforce WindsorEssex

Quick Facts/Links:

Media Contact:

Tashlyn Teskey
Senior Manager of Research and Innovation
Workforce WindsorEssex
tteskey@workforcewindsoressex.com
(226) 674-3220 ext. 3020

About Workforce WindsorEssex:

Workforce WindsorEssex is a workforce and community development board whose mission is to lead regional employment and community planning for the development of a strong and sustainable workforce.

Workforce WindsorEssex is an experienced leader in the development of regional labour market tools, research, guides, and events that create positive change in the local labour market while saving others time and effort. These resources, created in close coordination with employment, education, and industry partners, are designed to help jobseekers, employers, students, and educators, as well as the community, make more informed labour market decisions using locally-responsive, data-rich, and unbiased resources. To learn more about Workforce WindsorEssex and view our tools and resources, visit www.workforcewindsoressex.com.

À propos de Workforce WindsorEssex:

Workforce WindsorEssex est une organisation à but non-lucratif dont sa mission est de diriger la planification de l’emploi et le développement communautaire avec l’objectif d’assurer une main-d’œuvre solide et durable.

Workforce WindsorEssex est leader expérimenté dans le développement d’outils, de recherches, de guides et d’événements sur le marché du travail créant des changements positifs qui font gagner de l’argent et du temps. Ces ressources, crées en coordination avec les partenaires en emploi, en éducation et en industrie, ont pour but d’aider les demandeurs d’emploi, les employeurs, les élèves, les éducateurs, et la communauté, à prendre des décisions plus informées sur le marché du travail en utilisant des outils impartiaux, riches en données et adaptés aux besoins locaux. Pour apprendre d’avantage de Workforce WindsorEssex, et pour engager avec nos outils et ressources, visitez www.workforcewindsoressex.com.

About Workforce Planning West

Workforce Planning West is comprised of the nine Workforce Planning Boards operating in the area between Lake Erie and Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada. Workforce Planning Boards gather intelligence about the supply of labour and the demand for workers within the local labour market. For more information, please visit www.workforceplanningwest.com.

À propos de Workforce Planning West

Workforce Planning West est composé des neuf Comités de planification de la main-d’œuvre opérant dans la région située entre le lac Érié et le lac Huron en Ontario, Canada. Les Comités de planification de la main-d’œuvre recueillent des informations sur l’offre de main-d’œuvre et la demande de travailleurs sur le marché du travail local. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez visiter : www.workforceplanningwest.com.

24-11-21 – Growing Your Workforce Conference NRDownload