As part of its $250-million commitment to help Canada’s workforce update skills for the changing needs of a modern economy, the Federal government is giving $10.8 million to the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Jelly Academy and Growclass for a new Digital Marketing Skills Canada (DMSC) program. The three training partners hope to increase Canadian job placement by training 1,200 individuals in marketing by March, 2025.
The new DMSC is designed for marketers who are seeking career advancement and are either progressing, unemployed, underemployed or working part-time, to enhance their skills at no cost.
“The marketing profession plays a key role in building businesses and contributing to Canada’s GDP,” said Alison Simpson, president and CEO, Canadian Marketing Association.” The Canadian Marketing Association and our partners Jelly Academy and Growclass are primarily focused on supporting marketers in transition and people from under-represented groups with leading training programs that will help futureproof marketers as well as Canada’s economy and competitiveness.”
While the CMA, drawing on its Chartered Marketer program, is responsible for training industry professionals with more than five years of experience, Jelly Academy and Growclass have tailored their own training courses to junior and mid-level marketers respectively.
The program is part of the Government of Canada’s Upskilling for Industry Initiative.
The CMA will deliver its Chartered Marketer program to 200 professionals with five or more years of experience, while also working with Jelly Academy, an indigenous led digital marketing educator, to place its graduating students into the CMA’s member organizations.
Growclass, which specializes in data driven growth marketing, will train 500 mid-level marketers with four to 10 years of experience, while Jelly Academy will train 500 junior marketers with three or less years of experience.
“After the first year, we’re hoping for a renewal and to see more amazing talent entering the sector fully upskilled with professional designations and getting quality jobs,” said Jelly Academy founding partner, Darian Kovacs told Campaign.
Each program will be virtual and available nationally for a period of seven weeks.
The CMA is presently accepting applications, through which recipients will be assessed and pending qualification, will be assigned to the program best suited for their needs.
