BALTA Project C13 - Return on Taxpayer Investment for Training Businesses

Abstract

This proposal/plan outlines a research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA), to examine the experience of what are referred to in Quebec as les entreprises d’insertion. While the term training businesses is used in English, this merely describes the focus on the activity performed in these environments, i.e. training, whereas entreprises d’insertion draws attention to the objective of the business, which is to achieve social and professional integration through training. People living in situations of poverty can experience a variety of conditions that include isolation from friends, family, neighbours, community events, government and community resources. Training businesses address this by providing work experience and skills upgrading for participants, leading to improved employment prospects. This paper will explore the Quebec context, the training businesses that exist in Quebec, the enabling environment that has supported their development and provide an overview of the current state of affairs for training businesses. Significant results and the issue of return on investment will also be addressed.