BHP is solidifying its position as an inclusive employer dedicated to workforce diversity by joining forces with Women Building Futures (WBF) with the BHP Trades Readiness Program. The initiative is designed to provide women with hand-on skills required in the mining industry. The first of five cohorts of women kicks off in January 2023. Training providing safety certificates, hands-on construction trade skills, and best practices will be part of the package. 

The BHP Trades Readiness program aims to promote safety, productivity and wellbeing in its inclusive and diverse workforce. The key focus is to establish a workforce set to support the continued construction of the Jansen Potash Project. The program will continue to provide opportunities for women as the mine approaches completion and enters its start up phase, projected for 2026.

“Teams at BHP that are more diverse have demonstrated they are safer, more productive and promote a better culture. This is why we are striving to ensure our Jansen operations workforce is gender balanced through mitigating bias in our hiring and recruitment processes, embedding flexible work, training, focusing on respectful behaviours and making our brand attractive to everyone,” says Simon Thomas, President Potash. 

“Supporting women’s economic security has an incredible ripple effect for the community. When you uplift the potential of a woman, you uplift the potential of her children as well. We look forward to working with BHP to bring this great opportunity to the people of Saskatchewan,” says Carol Moen, President & CEO of Women Building Futures.

A release by the mining giant states that it is committed to achieving gender parity and expects to hire 3,500 workers in Saskatchewan for the Jansen Mine project, further contributing to Saskatchewan’s economic growth after COVID-19. Currently, BHP counts 37% of women in its workforce—compared to 17% in Canada’s mining industry.

The first cohort will be delivered in Saskatoon this coming January. Applications are available at the WBF website.