The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is offering free online training courses to help local businesses and their employees build new skills. Through the Skills Bridge program, created by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and funded by the Government of Canada and the Future Skills Centre, business owners can sign up their staff for over 60 courses at no cost until August 31, 2026.
Each organization can register up to 10 employees on the Skills Bridge learning platform, giving them access to training in areas like management, customer service, sales and marketing, digital skills, workplace safety, and more. The program even includes courses on artificial intelligence and cyber security, helping workers and businesses stay current in a fast-changing job market.
The Chamber has been promoting the Skills Bridge program since April through its regular member newsletters, and represents more than 625 businesses across St. Thomas and Elgin County. Chamber staff say the free training is a simple way for employers to invest in their teams without spending money on professional development.
Skills Bridge was developed with input from the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University and is powered by Magnet. The courses are designed to be practical and job-focused, covering everything from basic digital skills to advanced management techniques. The no-cost access is part of a Beta period that runs until the end of August, so businesses are encouraged to register soon to take full advantage of the offer.
Business owners interested in signing up their employees can visit the Chamber’s website or go directly to the Skills Bridge registration page to create an account and start exploring the available courses.
