The Employer Edge: From Contact to Collaboration

Strong relationships with employers are the cornerstone of sustainable employment strategies that deliver results for job seekers. The Employment Edge is a practical new training that builds your capacity to engage employers more effectively, leading to deeper partnerships and better employment outcomes.

Who This is Ideal For

  • Frontline staff involved in employment engagement, job development, or partnerships
  • Employment organizations aiming to develop stronger, more strategic employer relationships
  • Teams looking to strengthen their collaboration and follow-through in their employer outreach

What Your Team Will Gain

  • A tailored employer outreach plan aligned with appropriate sector or regional employer needs
  • Strategies to position your team as trusted workforce development partners
  • Systems and processes to support long-term employer engagement and accountability
  • A follow-up and employer accountability plan to sustain hiring outcomes and collaboration

What's Included

  • Six 2.5-hour interactive webinars over six weeks
  • weekly reading and applied activities
  • Personalized coaching and mentorship
  • Final capstone project to implement your learning

Training Features

Tailored for the sector

Designed with real-world sector challenges in mind, helping staff adapt and problem-solve with confidence

Applied Learning

Participants apply tools immediately using an Employment Engagement Toolkit, building skills through hands-on activities.

Collaborative Team Project

Teams work together on a workplace-based project to apply new practices to their employer outreach.

Employer Engagement Toolkit

Developed in collaboration with sector experts, this toolkit offers practical templates, guides, and resources to enhance employer relationships.

Ready to Gain an Edge?

Registration for upcoming cohorts is opening soon!

How It Works

Up to six organizations can participate in the launch cohort starting in September.

Nominate Staff

Identify a team of 2 – 4 staff with current employer engagement responsibilities – likely frontline staff in job development, partnerships, and/or communications.

Internal support

Identify an internal champion to support the transfer of skills and improvements and mentor the team through the capstone project.

Program Registration

The organizational representative submits a short registration form.

Training

Participants ensure attendance at all sessions. Sessions are held remotely.

Powered by Partnership

This initiative is made possible through the collaboration of:

The Employer Edge: From Contact to Collaboration is funded with the support of the Workforce Funder Collaborative and is developed in partnership by First Work and The Neighbourhood Group.