Next month, some 55 people will have a chance to get hands-on training that will allow them to flourish in the county’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Of those participants, 35 will be people who are unemployed or underemployed and another 20 will be workers in the sector looking to advance in their career with extra training.

Those selected for the Helping Employers Acquire Talent (HEAT) program will receive tourism ambassador training through the Prince Edward Learning Centre (PELC), job coaching through Career Edge, and feedback from 18 leading tourism and hospitality employers taking part in an advisory capacity.

Jenifer Dean, of the County Cider Company Inc. is a proponent of the program.

“HEAT is a much-needed initiative that will bring “work ready employes into local tourism businesses,” she said. “Soft skills training, such as interview skills, safe food handling and more are part of the program being offered.

“Working with local hospitality-based employers is a vital part of this training and we at County Cider look forward to working with our tourism partners to make this program a success.”

Prospective participants can be referred for the HEAT program by a community partner like the PELC, the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, Career Edge, or Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Social Services.

Government funding covers costs of Smart Serve, Service Excellence, and Safe Food Handlers Certification. Participants may also be eligible to have some transportation and childcare costs covered, based on financial need.

-Staff