CREDIT: THE GENDER COALITION OF ONTARIO
Fanshawe has partnered with The Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario to bring students this program.

Fanshawe has partnered with The Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario to bring a technology skills training and development program to the college. The program strives to teach women, women-identifying people, and non-binary individuals the essential tech skills needed in today’s job industries.

“IgniteHER is a sales development program through the Ministry of Labour’s Skills Development Fund,” said Heather Carey, manager at Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions. “It’s an eight-week program and we are the bridge between employers and their need for skilled workers and job seekers and people who have skills, but maybe need to upskill and reskill.”

Carey said for each program they offer through Corporate Training Solutions, there’s a unique feature of skills development. For this program, they’re looking at ability and disability, including mental health.


“It’s an eight-week program. There are two full weeks where we are working on not only confidence and building self-care practices, but really working through the mental health because so many people were displaced through COVID.”

Some of the other skills that will be offered through IgniteHER are:

• Customer service and help desk support
• Office administration
• Sales, marketing, and digital marketing
• Web design and web programming
• Information technology and software developer

The program is not limited to these specific skills and more may be taught.

The delivery format will be blended, with some portions online, and others in-person. This will include six weeks of technology and digital skills training, two weeks of mental wellness and employability development support, and three months of post-hire employment coaching and mentoring.

“It’s a tasting menu because it’s the beginning of the start-up for the tech sector. It really does incorporate so many great entrylevel jobs.”

For Fanshawe, it adds yet another feather to the hat, as well as more opportunities for future tech students.

“It definitely puts us in a great position to work with employers that are in the tech sector. We think that’s where the future of work is and we are able to develop the workforce here in London and surrounding areas.”

The community has really responded to this program being offered and now, there is a waitlist for IgniteHER. Anyone who is interested can find out more and join the waitlist at fanshawec.ca/cts.