Western Joint Electrical Training Society

What Western Joint Electrical Training Society does

Western Joint Electrical Training Society (WJETS) is a non-profit joint training society founded in 1969 by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Unions 230, 993, and 1003 in partnership with the CLR Electrical Division. It serves as the designated training provider for the electrical specialists employed by the signatory contractors of these three IBEW locals, covering Vancouver Island, Northern BC and Yukon, and the Kootenays. The organization's mandate is twofold: to advance the education and continuing training of Red Seal Electricians, and to support and develop the electrical apprenticeship system. Members access training at no direct cost, with WJETS paying for upgrading courses related to the electrical industry based on criteria and prior approval.

WJETS delivers training through five regional training academies (Victoria/Esquimalt, Kamloops, Prince George, Terrace) combined with online delivery via a Moodle-based Learning Management System, supplemented by Vubiz and Exambank for Health & Safety courses and Zoom/GoToTraining for synchronous sessions. The course portfolio spans FSR Code Updates (TechBC accredited), Front Line Leadership Gold Seal courses, Arc Flash, Fire Alarm, Photovoltaic, Fiber Optic (FOA CFOT prep), EVSE, Low/High Voltage Qualified (CSA Z462-21), Aerial Work Platform (with VR simulation), Welding, Forklift, First Aid, and Conduit Bending. Three branded sub-initiatives extend the mandate: WATT (Workplace Alternative Trades Training, a pre-apprenticeship pathway achieving 96% continuation), WIRED (women's mentorship and inclusion in electrical trades), and Green Health (mental health and substance use counselling for construction workers and families).

The business model is that of a member-funded and grant-funded training society rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue derives from signatory contractor and union contributions (training levies), plus targeted government grants — notably Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy funding for WATT/WIRED and SkilledTradesBC funding from the Province of British Columbia. Adrien Livingston serves as Executive Director. The organization reports 1-10 employees in administrative roles, with training delivery largely coordinated through training coordinators embedded in each IBEW local union (Chris Sherman at Local 993, Cory McGregor at Local 230, Lindsay Kenny at Local 1003).

Name

Western Joint Electrical Training Society

Legal name

Western Joint Electrical Training Society

Website

https://wjets.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Western Joint Electrical Training Society (WJETS) is a non-profit training partnership between IBEW Local Unions 230, 993, 1003 and the CLR Electrical Division. Founded in 1969, it delivers electrical apprenticeship, certification, and continuing education training to union members across British Columbia and Yukon, including WATT, WIRED, and Green Health programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Electrical Trade Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrician Training (Residential & Commercial) (EDAOABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage) (EDAOABAI)

Keywords

• Electrical trade training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Continuing education
• Pre-apprenticeship training
• Union training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Delta

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Training Services for IBEW Members: WJETS provides training services to members of IBEW Local Unions 230, 993, and 1003. The organization is funded through union partnerships and government funding (Government of Canada, Province of BC SkilledTradesBC). Member training is provided at no direct cost to eligible members.
2. WATT Pre-Apprenticeship Program: Free pre-apprenticeship training program funded by Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia (SkilledTradesBC). Financial supports including basic living expenses, childcare and wage subsidy may be available to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Western Joint Electrical Training Society delivers accredited continuing education, certification, and apprenticeship training for IBEW Local 230, 993, and 1003 members and their signatory contractors across British Columbia. Its portfolio spans electrical code and safety courses (FSR Code Update, Arc Flash, Fire Alarm), specialty certifications (Fiber Optic CFOT, Photovoltaic, EVSE, High/Low Voltage), leadership development (Front Line Leadership Gold Seal), pre-apprenticeship recruitment (WATT), women's mentorship (WIRED), and mental health support (Green Health). Training is delivered through in-person workshops at regional centers, synchronous online sessions, and a Moodle-based learning management system.

Product overview

Western Joint Electrical Training Society operates as a workforce development and training organization serving IBEW union members across British Columbia. The organization functions as a unified platform combining in-person and online training delivery through its Moodle-based learning management system. Core offerings include certification courses for electrical tradespeople (FSR Code Updates, Fiber Optic, Arc Flash, Fire Alarm), leadership development (Front Line Leadership Levels 1-2), and specialized technical training (Photovoltaic, EVSE, High Voltage). The portfolio includes three branded initiatives: WATT (pre-apprenticeship training), WIRED (women's trades support), and Green Health (mental health services). Training is delivered at regional centers and synchronously online via Zoom and GoToTraining, with supplemental asynchronous content through Vubiz and Exambank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WATT: Workplace Alternative Trades Training - An employer-verified, demand-driven, Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Training program designed to remove apprenticeship barriers and increase completion rates among under-represented groups in the skilled trades.
• WIRED
• Green Health

Products and services

• WATT (Workplace Alternative Trades Training)
• WIRED (Women's Interconnection and Retention in Electrical Disciplines)

Quantifiable outcome

• WATT program achieves 96% apprenticeship continuation rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 230coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between IBEW Local 230 (Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands) and WJETS for training electrical specialists employed by signatory contractors. Covers Vancouver Island region.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 993coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between IBEW Local 993 (Northern BC and Yukon) and WJETS for training electrical specialists. Covers Northern BC and Yukon territories.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1003coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between IBEW Local 1003 (Kootenays) and WJETS for training electrical specialists. Covers the Kootenay region.
• CLR Electrical DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLR Electrical Division is a founding partner of the Western Joint Electrical Training Society established in 1969.
• Construction Foundation of BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of WATT program with IBEW and WJETS. Administers the annual Western JETS Leadership Award. Provides interview and program coordination for WATT participants.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal funding for WATT program through Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Women in Skilled Trades Program and Union Training and Innovation Program. Funding supports training for equity-priority groups including women.
• Province of British Columbia - SkilledTradesBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial funding partner for WATT program providing training for equity-priority groups including Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized minorities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants.
• BC Building Trades UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Health program provides mental health and substance use support services to apprentices and Red Seal certified workers in BC Building Trades Unions, free of charge.
• WinSETT (Women in SETT)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWIRED sponsors tradeswomen to attend WinSETT's Tradeswomen's Leadership and Self-Promotion events and professional development sessions.
• Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIRED program aligned with CAF-FCA National Leadership Development Program and Western JETS Leadership Award administered through CFBC.
• BCCWITT (BC Centre for Women in the Trades)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWIRED provides access to BCCWITT's extensive list of resources for equity priority tradesworkers including scholarships and bursaries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC) Ontario: EJTC is the Ontario counterpart to WJETS, providing joint IBEW-NECA electrical apprenticeship and journeyperson upgrading across the province. It offers a near-identical product portfolio (apprenticeship, FSR, Gold Seal, leadership) and is the most directly comparable peer in Canada.
• IBEW Local 213 Joint Electrical Training: IBEW Local 213 in the Lower Mainland serves Vancouver-area union electricians through its own JATC training program. It directly competes with WJETS for IBEW member training in the BC market overlap.
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) of British Columbia: IEC represents the non-union side of the BC electrical industry and runs its own apprenticeship and training programs. It is the principal competitive alternative to WJETS for open-shop contractors and non-union electricians in the same geographic market.

Emerging players

• WinSETT Centre (Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology): WinSETT runs leadership and self-promotion programming for women in SETT fields, including trades. WIRED sponsors WJETS tradeswomen to attend WinSETT events, making it a complementary emerging player in women-in-trades programming.
• BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT): BCCWITT supports women in skilled trades across BC through mentorship and resource provision. It overlaps with WJETS's WIRED program and is an explicit partner, but operates independently with a broader trades focus beyond electrical.

Broad incumbents

• British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT): BCIT's Trades and Technology division offers electrical apprenticeship and continuing education programs across BC. As a much larger public institution, it competes for non-union apprentices and provides an alternative pathway WJETS members sometimes exit to or compare against.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Canada: NECA Canada is the national contractor counterpart to IBEW, jointly running apprenticeship programs with IBEW locals across provinces including BC. Its broader mandate and policy advocacy make it a partial overlap and indirect partner to WJETS through the joint training committee structure.

Others

• SkilledTradesBC (Industry Training Authority): SkilledTradesBC is the BC provincial body that funds, accredits, and oversees apprenticeship systems across all trades including electrical. It is a key funder and regulator of WJETS programs, making it an enabling/adjacent peer rather than a competitor.
• Construction Foundation of BC: CFBC co-created the WATT program with WJETS and IBEW, and administers the annual Western JETS Leadership Award. It is an ecosystem partner and program co-owner rather than a direct competitor, but its mandate intersects with WJETS workforce-development work.

Regional players

• IBEW Local 424 (Alberta) Training: IBEW Local 424 operates joint training programs for union electricians across Alberta. It is structurally identical to WJETS - a partnership between an IBEW local and signatory electrical contractors delivering apprenticeship and continuing education - making it the closest regional analogue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/western_jets
• Facebookfacebook.com/westernjets
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibew230womenscommittee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wjets

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western Joint Electrical Training Society