Ontario Chamber of Commerce Skills Bridge Beta Program Evaluation

The Skills Bridge Learning Management System (LMS) was developed as a unified digital platform serving as a one-stop shop to meet the unique skills training needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Funded by the Future Skills Centre and delivered by a partnership between the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), the Diversity Institute (DI), and Magnet, the Skills Bridge platform was iteratively developed to address the requirements of Canadian SMEs with the following core objectives: 

1. Strengthening SME adaptability and competency development 
2. Supporting more inclusive workplaces 
3. Creating pathways to employment through upskilling
4. Developing a sustainable marketplace of training resources.

This report examines the Beta phase of Skills Bridge, which covers the initial implementation and subsequent extension period of the program. Using quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, interviews, and roundtable discussions, the report evaluates the effectiveness of the program’s recruitment strategy, LMS content, training material, and EDI training. The report also identifies barriers that affect access to Skills Bridge.

Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the vast majority of employer businesses in the private sector of Canada’s economy but face challenges adapting to technological, economic, and labour market changes. To adapt to these changes, SMEs recognize that they must invest in upskilling and the ability to recruit and retain skilled workers. However, many SMEs struggle to invest in upskilling due to limited organizational capacity, time, and resources, as well as uneven access to digitized training programs. These barriers are especially pronounced for workers from equity-deserving groups who face socioeconomic challenges such as financial precarity, language barriers, and discrimination. The Skills Bridge program was designed to help SMEs overcome these barriers by providing a centralized digital learning initiative that enhances SMEs’ capacity to attract, retain, and develop talent and supports inclusive economic growth. 

Overall, the Skills Bridge LMS project achieved strong national reach and effectively engaged SMEs through chambers of commerce. The following findings were identified from the program evaluation:

• Chambers of commerce played a key role in facilitating recruitment and engagement, showing that established relationships and personalized communication enables effective outreach and participation. SME participants covered a wide range of sectors including professional services, health care, manufacturing, and education. Geographically, most participants were concentrated in Ontario. 
• Training was well received and aligned with workplace needs, with survey findings showing that 90% of learners rated the course content compelling while 92% indicated they would apply their learnings to their current job. Findings suggest that SMEs are strategically using the platform to build workforce capabilities, improve organizational performance, and support business growth. 
• While Skills Bridge provided supports to address barriers related to cost, geography, and training options, SMEs still faced challenges moving from enrollment to completion, highlighting a need for SMEs to integrate training into their day-to-day operations.
• The main barriers to access and use of the LMS were time constraints and organizational constraints. As a result, the platform had strong initial interest but lacked sustained engagement and course completion. However, the accessible, user-friendly design of the platform shaped meaningful engagement outcomes. 

The following selected recommendations provide future direction for Skills Bridge:

• Help SMEs better integrate training into their day-to-day operations by strengthening approaches that support sustained engagement beyond initial enrolment.
• Meet SMEs’ specific needs by tailoring delivery and engagement strategies to reflect differences among SMEs including business size, sector, and capacity.
• Integrate ED content into broader business training areas that facilitate application in workplace settings.
• Strengthen long-term uptake by conducting further evaluations to better understand the barriers and enablers to SME adoption and sustained engagement with Skills Bridge.