Workforce Training Will Enable Local Company to Target Market Expansion

St. John’s-based Parallel Services Inc. will use a Provincial Government investment of $77,699 to acquire industry-specific training for its employees.

“Workforce development is vital to business growth,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “This training will equip the employees of Parallel Services Inc. with the knowledge and skills that are required by their clients in the information and communications technology sector. Ultimately, this could help generate additional business opportunities, facilitate market expansion and create a stronger, more competitive company.”

Founded in 1990, Parallel Services Inc. provides engineering support services to service providers in the telecommunications industry. The company will engage College of the North Atlantic to deliver Cisco Certified Network Associate training to eight of its employees. The training provides individuals with the latest knowledge and expertise required to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks.

“The Cisco Certified Network program represents an important part of our ongoing commitment to personnel development,” said Gerard Lahey, CEO, Parallel Services Inc. “With this training we are now positioned to provide engineering services to any organization implementing Internet protocol-based networks.”

Previous investments, totalling $51,000 from the Provincial Government, have supported the company’s marketing and branding strategies and enabled it to build its profile on the national and international stage.

“The college’s Corporate Training department excels at meeting the needs of businesses of any size,” said Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO of College of the North Atlantic. “As certified Cisco training professionals, our faculty members and business development staff pride themselves on the ability to make any training experience a positive and relevant one for our partners. Like Parallel Services Inc., we remain flexible in our approach to business solutions, and we are pleased to be working with such a reputable local engineering firm as they continue to grow in this sector.”

This initiative was funded through the Workplace Skills Enhancement Program, which through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity has $2.1 million available for investment. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, the program helps small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic sectors acquire and increase the skills of employees to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. It is funded by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement and the Strategic Training and Transition Fund.

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2012 10 31                                10:10 a.m.