The search has begun for exceptional Ontario employers who are helping to build tomorrow's skilled workforce by training new apprentices.

Each year, the Minister's Awards for Apprenticeship Training honours employers for their commitment to training apprentices. The awards celebrate those that support the apprenticeship training system, show leadership in training apprentices, and promote careers in the skilled trades.

Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 29, 2012.

The announcement was made at automatic greasing systems specialist FLO Components' Mississauga, Ont., facility, with Glen Murray, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Mississauga-Brampton South MPP Amrit Mangat in attendance. FLO Components was a recipient of the award in 2011.

Four Ontario employers, including Mississauga-based FLO Components Ltd., are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to training the next generation of skilled workers.

"Ontario boasts more than 122,000 apprentices learning a trade today — that's double the number from 2002-03," Murray said. "We salute employers that train apprentices, and recognize that continuing to enhance our apprenticeship system will help build the skilled workforce Ontario needs to succeed."

The event recognizes 16 employers — from the four regions (northern, eastern, western, central) in Ontario — for their excellence in apprenticeship training. From these 16, four regional winners are chosen and honoured at an awards ceremony in the spring.

Nomination and selection are based on the following seven selection criteria:

1. Commitment to the apprenticeship system by consistently employing and training apprentices and journeypersons.
2. A focus on hiring youth, including youth hired through the Apprenticeship Scholarship and Employer Signing Bonus, and people experiencing barriers to entry into apprenticeship.
3. Use of innovative approaches in support of specific on-the-job apprenticeship training, recruitment and long-term employment.
4. Involvement in the formation of partnerships with other organizations including but not limited to ministry sponsored programs to expand apprenticeship, such as the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Employment Services, the Pre-Apprenticeship Program and the Rapid Re-employment and Training initiatives.
5. Commitment to prior learning assessment and recognition by acknowledging and giving credit for experience.
6. Commitment to building capacity in apprenticeship training by actively participating in the promotion and marketing of apprenticeship.
7. Involvement in or support for community organizations dedicated to training and improving labour market outcomes, such as a provincial advisory committee or local apprenticeship committee, industry committee, local training board, board of trade or commerce, business-education council.

www.ontario.ca/apprenticeshipawards