Company: Palette Skills (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Company Description: Palette Skills is a national nonprofit, funded by the Government of Canada, whose purpose is to help Canada’s most innovative companies access untapped talent by creating a rapidupskilling system that connects new talent pipelines to high demand roles. Palette Skills is a leader in developing industry-led upskilling programs which drive a more globally competitive and inclusive economy.
Nomination Category: Sales Awards Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year - Technology Industries
 Nomination Title: Palette Skills
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the nominated achievement since July 1, 2021, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below.
Palette Skills is a national nonprofit whose purpose is to connect Canada’s most innovative companies with the talent they need to grow.
We’re working with partners across the country to build a national upskilling system that creates new career paths for untapped talent to meet their full potential.
Palette Skills is a leader in developing industry-led upskilling programs which drive a more globally competitive and inclusive economy. Powered by a consortium of national business associations, leading academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations,we work to catalyze a network of partners to adopt new best practices in industry-led upskilling approaches.
SalesCamp, one of our inaugural programs, continues to attract interest from employers and workers. The program prepares people for a career in business-to- business (B2B) tech sales. The core experience of SalesCamp is five days of intensive, online, synchronous classes – followed by four weeks of structured job search support. This support includes coaching, workshops, and other job search activities. From April 2022 to March 2023, we ran 11 cohorts – nine in Ontario and two in B.C. Owing to the success and demand of SalesCamp in Ontario and British Columbia, we extended its reach to the Prairies
- Briefly describe the nominated organization or individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 194 words used.
Palette Skills began as a national nonprofit with a mission to help Canada’s most innovative companies access untapped talent. Our roots are in program development and execution using our employment-centric approach.
Palette Skills was incubated in 2017 at the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship. Our initial motivation was to ensure that as automation and technology changed the labor market, the livelihoods of Canadians would not be destabilized. Instead, we saw an opportunity to create pathways that would allow people to benefit from economic change.
Our upskilling program, SalesCamp is an intensive and effective six-week virtual upskilling program that trains and supports mid-career workers to gain skills and jobs in B2B tech sales. SalesCamp has successfully transitioned hundreds of Canadians in multiple provinces into the growing technology sector. SalesCamp incorporates live instructions, demonstrations, practice assignments, networking opportunities, job search support, and employer connections.
In March 2023, Palette Skills received a generous grant from TD Bank Group. This grant directly supports Palette Skills' SalesCamp Program, a comprehensive B2B tech sales training program designed to provide Canadians looking to make a career change or transition into their first tech sales job with no prior industry experience.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 243 words used.
We have attached the links to the annual report, a video testimonial of a SalesCamp alumnus detailing how SalesCamp aided in his career transition and introduced him to tech sales, and another video testimonial from Achievers, one of our hiring partners shares how SalesCamp has granted them access to an ever-expanding pool of talented, qualified, and diverse candidates.
The annual report for Palette Skills in 2022-2023 provides a comprehensive business overview detailing our internal program delivery and the key takeaways from this initiative. Additionally, it covers the successful launch of our upskilling program in Canada. Moreover, the report outlines our strategic objectives for 2023-2024, focusing on various areas such as finance, personnel, internal operations, and our mission objectives.
This video features Klaus Anselm, an alumnus of SalesCamp, sharing his inspiring journey from a freelance musician to a successful Enterprise Account Manager at a tech sales company. Klaus smoothly transitioned into business-to-business tech sales, quickly securing a position after completing SalesCamp, and leveraging his soft skills to excel in the field.
Achievers is one of our hiring partners at SalesCamp. Eamonn Filinski, the Head of Global Sales and Development, shares their experience with SalesCamp as an exceptional recruitment solution for B2B tech sales roles. SalesCamp has provided them access to an ever-expanding pool of talented, qualified, and diverse candidates. Moreover, it has played a crucial role in fostering the company's potential for future growth. The link to the video testimonial can be foundhere.
- Outline the nominated achievement since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 216 words used.
Over the past three years, Palette Skills has harnessed the power of this model to facilitate the successful transition of more than 500 individuals into new and promising careers. The remarkable employment outcomes achieved through this initiative underscore its effectiveness. An impressive 79% of participants have managed to secure employment within a mere six months. SalesCamp had 22 cohorts between July 1st, 2021 - Jan 24th, 2023.
Moreover, 39% of these individuals have been rewarded for their dedication and growth with well-deserved promotions within just 18 months, showcasing the enduring value of the skills acquired. Notably, 83% of the hiring employers collaborating with Palette Skills are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), exemplifying the vital role of this initiative in fostering relationships within the business community. The program's extensive reach is further highlighted by its engagement with 148 employer partners. Diving into the participant demographics, the statistics paint a vivid picture of diversity and inclusivity.
With 66% identifying as mid-career professionals, the program caters to a wide spectrum of individuals seeking career transformation.
Additionally, the program serves as a beacon of opportunity for marginalized communities, with 60% identifying as racialized individuals and 49% as newcomers. As Palette Skills guides individuals to rewarding career paths, its impact resonates in the professional landscape and the lives of its beneficiaries.
- Explain why the achievement you have highlighted is unique or significant. If possible compare the achievement to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 229 words used.
When evaluating Palette Skills’ performance, let's delve into the data from section (b) and compare it to the period spanning from June 17th, 2019, to June 20th, 2021. Over this timeframe, Palette Skills has displayed impressive growth and achievements. The total number of cohorts has surged by an astounding 3.6-fold, indicating a remarkable 266% increase. Meanwhile, the count of participants has experienced a significant 3.2-fold rise, equivalent to an impressive 219% uptick. It's important to note that nearly half of the participants were women, underscoring a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Regrettably, we don't have data on newcomers with less than 5 years in Canada for this period. Nevertheless, 44% of the participants were newcomers, and 45% identified as racialized individuals, emphasizing Palette Skills’ commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. An overwhelming 71% of participants were in mid-career, showcasing the program's flexibility in catering to a diverse audience, and an impressive job placement rate of over 90% within 6 months highlights the program's efficacy.
Furthermore, Palette has expanded its network to encompass 55 employer partners, indicating a 2.7-fold increase, or a 169% growth rate. Of these partners, an encouraging 71% are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), demonstrating Palette Skills’ success in cultivating connections with a variety of employers. These figures collectively underscore Palette Skills’ dedication to empowering individuals and forging strong partnerships in the community.
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