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5 HIGHLIGHTS AWARENESS Throughout 2013, Women Building Futures continued to see an increase in its scope of influence. Nowhere was this more evident than in the engagement through our website and social media channels. There was an increase of 95 per cent in contacts made through social media (Facebook), and a 45 per cent increase in number of visits to the WBF website. WBF also saw a heightened awareness from industry and the media, resulting in over 22 articles being written and published about the organization in a variety of newspapers and industry magazines, including a piece on CBC National television. During 2013, WBF was also featured in two industry videos; Suncor's See What Yes Can Do video series, and the Electrical Sector Council's Breaking Barriers video series. READINESS, ASSESSMENT, RECRUITING Rigorous assessment remains a cornerstone of WBF's success — recruiting the right people into the right program to the right employer at the right time. PROGRAMMING The number of students graduating from our programs continues to increase. In 2013, WBF offered the following programs: five Journeywoman Start programs, two Heavy Equipment Operator programs, one Electrical Basics program and two Welding Basics; doubling the number of participants in the Basics programs. WBF secured and delivered three employer contracts in 2013; Imperial which allowed us to graduate 16 women into the earth moving/oil & gas industry, and Lafarge Canada Inc. to deliver a ready-mix driver training program to 10 women. Recruitment also began in 2013 to offer a new Welding Basics program in 2014 in partnership with TFL Industrial, an Edmonton-based steel fabrication, construction and maintenance company. KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES 2012 Students 2012 Graduates 2013 Students 2013 Graduates Journeywoman Start 72 71 66 56 Heavy Equipment Operator 16 16 17 17 WBF/Imperial HEO Program applicants Heavy Equipment Operator n/a n/a 16 16 Lafarge Ready-Mix 10 9 10 10 Short Programs 12 12 24 24 Total 110 108 133 123 Graduates hired within 6 months 91% 90%** During 2013, there was increased interest by industry in WBF through new partnerships, fee-for-service contracts and employers wanting to hire WBF graduates. The employment placement rate of graduates was sustained based on the number of graduates reached for follow-up. **Of those graduates reached for follow-up. "THE MORE WOMEN BECOME INTERESTED IN PURSUING A TRADES CAREER, THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR THE SKILLED TRADES WORKFORCE IN GENERAL." Tanner Stewart, President & CEO of TFL Industrial