WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Meet Oralia and hear her story.
To create our Workforce Development Program, B1C followed a multi-step process.
- We conducted in-depth research to identify sectors with high growth potential where there were shortages or high turnover of workers.
- We gauged supply and demand for workers in the local market.
- We evaluated the needs of local businesses, and workers’ needs and wants.
As a result, our program is specifically tailored to the immigrant community and the greater Stamford community. We want our students to get trained and get hired!
Based on our research, we created a Skills Development Program (SDP) that provides three tracks of industry specific, certificate-based training in:
- Culinary and Catering,
- Healthcare Skills, and
- Construction + Landscaping (C+L)
The program uses education, training and support to improve immigrants’ economic well-being while strengthening our local community.
In addition to the above three tracks of industry specifics, the Workforce Development Program offers immigrants a wide array of other courses and services to continue improving their skills and knowledge.
To complete the process, our Hiring Site connects Skills Development Program graduates and other workers in the community with jobs.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Get trained and get hired! The B1C Skills Development Program (SDP) trains our clients for jobs in the Healthcare, Culinary and Catering and Construction + Landscaping sectors – areas where there is a high local demand for skilled labor.
To help students build the skills needed to advance economically, this program responds to challenges faced by low-skilled immigrants with tailored approaches to education, training, and support.
The SDP’s strategies build well-rounded skills to improve immigrants’ economic wellbeing while strengthening our local community. (See graphic to the right)
GET TRAINED - HOW IT WORKS
1.
Tell us about yourself, your work experience and the industry you are interested in by filling out the interest form.
2.
We will get in touch with you and provide further information about our SDP programs.
3.
Start the classes and get trained.
HIRING SITE
Our Hiring Site provides job matching as a community resource. We help employers connect with skilled workers for daily or seasonal jobs in a safe, secure and simple way.
We are a referral service and we do not accept fees.
We can help you or your business find workers in the following areas:
- Home Health Care: Home Health Aide and Homecare Companions, certificate holders from Norwalk Community College.
- Culinary and Catering: Waitstaff, bartender, party help and prep cooks (ServSafe Food Handler Certificates holders).
- Home Maintenance: Yard work, landscaping, masons, painting, construction and home repairs (OSHA 10-hour Construction Safety and Health card holders)
- Others: Moving, housekeeping, warehouse work.
We can fill most requests within three days. Shorter time or same-day requests may also be filled based on availability of workers. During our busy season (May-August), we recommend requesting workers 4 days in advance. If you need a worker within 36 hours, please call directly to our offices at (203) 674-8585.
To HIRE you can:
- Fill in the request FORM below. This method will better expedite the request process
- Email the Worker's Coordinator at [email protected] or call 203-674-8585 ext. 102 or 203-252-7044 (cell)
- Visit Building One Community. The Hiring Site is open for workers pick-up or same day requests Monday through Saturday 7:30 AM-6:00 PM, and Sunday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
HIRE A WORKER - HOW IT WORKS
1.
Send in your job request.
2.
Our Hiring Site Manager will follow up and connect you with a worker.
3.
We ask for your feedback.
Frequently asked questions about our Hiring Site
Our Hiring Site provides job matching as a community resource. We help employers connect with skilled workers for daily or seasonal jobs in a safe, secure and simple way.
Why would I hire a worker from B1C rather than “off the street”?
There are several advantages to using B1C’s service over bargaining with day laborers on the street. We offer a physical meeting place and a bilingual staff to communicate job details and requirements. We provide guidelines to help both employer and worker decide on a fair rate of pay. Also, as a community center, we are familiar with our workers; in contrast, employers who hire casual workers elsewhere often have no knowledge of their background, skills, or reliability. While our service is limited to bringing employers and employees together, and we cannot guarantee worker skills, we know our workers because they are part of the B1C community. And our workers benefit from B1C’s programs and our welcoming environment.
We can help you or your business find workers in the following areas:
- Home Health Care: Home Health Aides and Homecare Companions, with certificates from Norwalk Community College
- Culinary and Catering: Waitstaff, bartenders, party help and prep cooks (with ServSafe Food Handler Certificates)
- Home Maintenance: Yard work, landscaping, masons, painting, construction and home repairs (OSHA 10-hour Construction Safety and Health card holders)
- Other: Moving and housekeeping
Employers start by filling out our Hire a Worker form on our website. The form asks for the details of the job, preferences regarding English proficiency, hourly rate, and other specifics. Our Hiring Site staff will match your job request to a specific worker (or workers) who meets your needs. You can also make a job request by email or by calling our Hiring Site Manager. Our staff will contact you if further details are needed, to confirm the job and provide the name(s) of the worker(s).
To help us find a worker who matches your needs, it is best to give us a few days’ advance notice.
All the workers we refer are registered at our center with the job skills they each possess. When you fill out a request, we refer to our database for the skills required and select the next worker who matches the requirement. We call or speak to the worker to confirm availability and job details. Employers are welcome to request past workers by name for follow-ups or new jobs. Many of our employers call to say how pleased they were with their worker(s), and are repeat customers.
All workers fill out an application and are entered into our database. We are aware of their qualifications and are pleased to recommend them to you, based on other employers' feedback.
Although we provide skills training and safety courses, we do not test the skills of each individual worker. It is the employers’ responsibility to ascertain the qualifications of the worker and our organization does not guarantee the quality of the workers’ job, nor is responsible for any of the actions of these workers. Since we are not a job agency, we do not request any documentation from workers or employers and consider this information private and confidential. Employers and workers undertake a work relationship at their own risk. However, we take reliability and security seriously. We encourage workers to take our job safety and skills development courses throughout the year, and will contact all employers to collect feedback about the workers and the service provided. Each worker receives a rating which can be used as a measure of reliability and overall quality.
Rates vary by job and timing but typical rates are $20 an hour, $20-25 during the peak months of April, May, June, September and October for house improvement, yard and moving jobs. Some of the more skilled jobs have higher rates, while more permanent or temporary jobs may carry lower rates given the number of hours. The actual rate is determined when the job is assigned, so there is clear understanding on the part of all parties prior to starting the job. Workers need to be paid at the end of the day, in cash. 100% of the payment goes to the worker; we do not charge any fees for our services. Please give all payment directly to the worker.
Taxes and insurance-related obligations, if applicable, are the responsibility of the employer. We do not carry insurance for the workers we refer. We do not collect any fees or withhold taxes from the jobs that result from our matching services. It is always the employer’s responsibility to check the qualifications and experience of prospective workers, to provide a safe working environment, and if needed, to consult with their individual insurance and accounting professionals, as circumstances differ among employers.
Typically, you pick up and drop off workers at our location on 75 Selleck Street, Stamford CT. Although some workers have cars or bicycles, most rely on public transportation. As the bus system does not always connect to work sites, we suggest that you plan on picking up the workers from the Center and returning them to the Center when the work is done.
Most workers will not have food or drink with them. Please consider providing something to eat and drink during the workday -- they will appreciate it. Please provide access to drinking water and a restroom they can use.
You can hire a worker, refer the Center to a friend, volunteer your time or donate funds.
