Case Studies
At TOWES, we've worked with several organizations to assess,
benchmark and improve literacy and essential skills in the
workplace. Read our case studies to see how other organizations are
benefiting from TOWES.
Areva
Profile: Technological
solutions for nuclear power generation and electricity transmission
and distribution.
Summary: In an effort to
help improve the essential skills of employees, AREVA used TOWES
assessments to assist GED participants and apprentices in preparing
for exams and technical training. Test takers whose scores
indicated a need for intervention were offered assistance and
support. Since then, all of the AREVA apprentices who have taken
technical training have passed their exams. Click here to read more.
Boeing
Profile: World's largest
aerospace company
Summary: When Boeing
Winnipeg hired a wave of new employees to gear up for the
production of the 787, it added TOWES assessments tailored for the
aerospace industry. TOWES replace the Canadian Adult Achievement
Test (CAAT) as a screening tool as it was deemed a more practical
tool directly related to skills on the job. Click here to read more.
Canadian Home Builder's
Association - Saskatchewan
Profile: Association for
Saskatchewan's residential builders
Summary: The association
needed to attract workers from multiple sources. They developed
programs to help marginalized and under-represented populations
re-enter the labour market. The Skill Build program was
established providing basic essential skills and pre-employment
training. Skill Build participants used TOWES to benchmark their
current skills. The results were used to develop specific learning
programs to address shortcomings and goals. Click here to read more.
Canadian Steel Trade and
Employment Congress (CSTEC)
Profile: Association of
steel industry
Summary: Over the last
decade, a rapid increase in the use of technology has led to higher
workplace skill requirements, particularly among trades'
occupations. CSTEC became aware of this transformation and
identified the need to train workers to help ensure they are able to
adapt to these ongoing changes in the workplace. TOWES was used to
assess the baseline of workers in preparation for further training
and development. Click here to read more.
Forest Products
Company
Profile: Unnamed
company active in Canadian forestry industry
Summary: Finding their
employees low in required skills, the company needed to take
action. After exploration of the TOWES assessments and some test
trials, the company worked with TOWES to build an assessment and
training program designed to increase reading and document use
scores-the two essential skills areas that were found weak in their
preliminary testing. Click here to read more.
Kahkewistahaw
Gas
Profile: First Nations run
gas and convenience store
Summary: Seventeen new
hires attended a seven-week program at Bow Valley College where
they benchmarked their essential skills using a TOWES assessment.
When the results were in, employees did better than they expected.
Motivated to learn, employees used BVC resources and the Measure Up
website to increased their essential skills scores, often by one or
two full levels. Click here to read more.
Marine Atlantic
Inc.
Profile: Federal Crown
Corporation that operates ferries
Summary: With safety as
their number one priority, Marine Atlantic employees must meet
certain qualifications and be certified prior to working in the
engine room or deck department. Marine Atlantic used TOWES
assessments to ensure that employees had the essential skills
necessary to develop the required knowledge to make the desired
moves prior to them being considered. Click here to read more.
NAIT
Profile: Institute of
Technology
Summary: The effectiveness
of essential skills approaches in improving completion rates of
first year apprentices was demonstrated through two research
projects conducted by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
(NAIT). Click here to read more.
Ontario
Northland
Profile: Provide rail and
motor coach services for passengers and freight
Summary: Finding
themselves in need of 100 new employees to complete a new project,
Ontario Northland chose TOWES as a screening tool for potential new
hires. As properly skilled employees were in demand, the company
found themselves hiring people without a railway background. TOWES
helped ensure these potential hires had skills that would transfer
into the railway environment. Click here to read more.
Service Cuisine G.P.
Inc.
Profile: Leader in
the food preparation industry
Summary: The company
participated in a national project on essential skills, aimed to
support businesses looking to integrate essential skills into their
workplace. The program helped Service Cuisine create appropriate
profiles for positions and identify the essential skills required
for new hires coming in to those roles. Subsequently, they created
an evaluation to test all new hires to see how they measured
against established requirements. Click here to read more.
Standard Aero
Profile: Maintains, repairs
and overhauls turbine engines for customers in the global
aerospace, defense and energy industries.
Summary: Document use is
critical at Standard Aero, so the company launched a research
project to assess the essential skills levels of production workers
worldwide. Select employees took a TOWES assessment customized for
the aerospace industry with interesting results. Click here to read more.
Vermillion Energy/YWCA of
Calgary
Profile: Skills Training
Centre
Summary: With applicants of
various ages and ethnicities and no standard education or
experience required for application, it was important for the
Training Centre to somehow determine each applicant's suitability
for the training program. The Vermilion Energy/YWCA Skills Training
Centre implemented TOWES testing during the application process for
new apprentices; results provided the Centre with insight into the
applicants' foundational skill set. Click here to read more.
To see more of our clients, click here