Immigration Connection Conference March 13, 2015

 90,000 population  7 rural municipalities  Guelph separate  2,600km2  78% business <10 employees  agriculture, manufacturing, health care, creative professional

 Economic Development Strategy 2012 “to sustain the local economy, the County should develop effective marketing and programming focused on drawing skilled residents from across Canada and the globe.”  Wellington Workforce Strategy 2013 “we need to attract workers because we have lack of applications and mismatch of skills”  300 in person business interviews % businesses plan on expanding in 2015 but 40% total businesses experiencing difficulty hiring  Diversification, new resident attraction, economic growth! Low population growth but businesses needing talent!

 The data analysis from our projects has led us to take a proactive role in the implementation of talent attraction.  2013 Newcomer bus tour in Wellington County  2015 Global Talent Attraction Initiative

Lead by the County, together with the City of Guelph and Local Immigration Partnership  Serves to aid employers experiencing difficulty finding specific skillsets locally  Serves to attract new residents to the City of Guelph and Wellington County

Objectives: to communicate opportunities and bring workers to businesses:  Understand the benefits of attracting and hiring global talent  Develop global talent strategies  Leverage the immigration system – NEW Express Entry Jan 2015

 Engage in 30 employer interviews.  Provide info about accessing the immigration system.  Work with key partners to connect businesses with immigrants already residing in our community.  Apply ‘best practices’ from the Employer Toolkit and County Employment Resource Centre.  Coordinate workshops with partner organizations on leveraging the immigration system.  Identify and compile a list of ‘business champions.’  Assist in writing success stories profiling local businesses and internationally trained immigrants.  Assist with project related activities such as a bus tour of Wellington for university and college pre- grads.

Feb – Mar  Meet key stakeholders and business supports, gather relevant materials and resources  Identify 30 employers that could benefit from this program  Compile survey/interview questions Apr-Sep  Visit with at least 30 businesses  Familiarize businesses with the Global Talent toolkit and other partner materials  Complete and analyze Survey/interviews  Identify early champions Sep-Oct  Hold mini workshops on express entry, based on some of the feedback received in surveys Nov-Mar 2016  Follow up visits with employers to see what impact has been had, what challenges have been encountered  Drafting of success stories  Publicity for work being done  Sustainability planning for the initiative

Robyn Mulder Global Talent Attraction Coordinator County of Wellington

Thank you! Jana Reichert BA, MSc Economic Development Officer County of Wellington 74 Woolwich Street Guelph Tel: (519) ext Mobile: (519) Fax: (519)