Around here, we're passionate about supporting our community – and that’s why we created the Reframe program in partnership with Community Builders. It’s designed to help support individuals facing economic barriers acquire the skills, work experience, and financial confidence they need for employment in the skilled trades industry. Learn more in this Q/A with Sarah Saso about how Meridian is making a difference and what we are doing to help support the housing affordability crisis.
Why did Meridian create the Reframe program?
Meridian created Reframe to address several key issues and opportunities identified within our communities and in the housing construction industry, including:
- To recognize the significant impact of skilled tradespeople on the economy.
- To address the looming shortage of skilled tradespeople due to the projected retirement of more than 700,000 skilled tradespeople by 2028.
- To support economically barriered individuals with education and hands-on work experience in the skilled trades in alignment with our “Meridian for Good” corporate strategy.
- To further our commitment-to-community support and address economic barriers, particularly in areas such as housing affordability and financial confidence.
What is Meridian’s contribution to Reframe?
- Financial support: In 2024, Meridian invested $250,000 to support Community Builders in providing education, hands-on skills development, and guidance in achieving a career in the skilled trades for barriered individuals.
- Employee involvement: Meridian employees donate their time as financial confidence coaches, and our HR team volunteers to support trainees with job readiness preparation.
Program objective: Reframe is part of Meridian's broader strategy, "Meridian for Good," which aims to help all people, including those in equity-deserving communities, access the money and advice they need, plan for a better future, and be financially confident.
What is the Meridian Reframe skilled trades program?
- Meridian's commitment: $250,000 contributed through the Reframe program, piloted in 2024 in Barrie, Ontario, in partnership with Community Builders.
- Program objective: To help those facing employment and economic barriers to gain skills, work experience, and financial confidence, enabling them to secure and retain employment in the skilled trades industry.
- Training program:
- Each cohort of trainees completes a 12-week program in Barrie, Ontario.
- The program includes hands-on skilled trades education and training, job-site experience, and support in getting navigated to employment, all provided by Community Builders.
- Wrap-around supports provided by Meridian:
- Employment readiness coaching from Meridian’s HR teams.
- Financial confidence coaching from Meridian employees in retail, wealth, and business banking. Coaching helps trainees understand:
- The financial tools and resources available to them.
- How to set financial goals.
- The steps required to achieve those goals.
- Trades covered: Training and guidance is applicable to a range of trades, including drywalling, mudding, and carpentry.
- Outcome for trainees: The goal of the program is to help trainees understand each trade, discover their passions, and decide on their preferred job path.
Who can participate in Reframe?
- The Reframe program is designed to support economically barriered individuals who want education and ultimately a career in skilled trades.
- Program participants are recruited and selected by partner nonprofits; they are supported by grants from Meridian as well as wrap-around training including financial confidence coaching and HR support.
How are trainees’ lives impacted by Reframe?
- Education and skills development: Trainees receive education and hands-on skills development, potentially leading to careers in the skilled trades. As of December 2024, 89% of graduate trainees have achieved employment.
- Financial confidence: Personalized guidance from volunteer financial confidence coaches helps participants take control of their finances and plan for a more secure future. As of December 2024, 100% of trainees have reported feeling more financially confident.
- Career opportunities: The focus on skilled trades helps address the labor shortage in this sector, providing appropriate career opportunities for participants
What are the future plans for Reframe?
- Continued partnership in Barrie: The City of Barrie has committed to match Meridian’s investment in Community Builders’ work with an investment of $250,000, ensuring continued program support and enrollment growth in Barrie.
- Expansion to Greater Toronto Area: Following the success of Reframe’s first year in Barrie, the program will be expanded to include the Greater Toronto Area in 2025.
What do trainees say about Meridian’s Reframe?
- "I loved the Community Builders’ program, it inspired me and gave me the confidence to believe I am able and capable to work on a jobsite. I have been looking forward to getting into the trades for a while and now I feel like it’s a possibility!" - Reframe Trainee
- "This experience was incredibly useful and informative about acquiring financial knowledge and leveraging it alongside steady income to make money work for me." - Reframe Trainee
