The Opportunity
The smallest and westernmost of Canada’s three federal territories, the Yukon has a diverse population of 42,000, with 76% of the population living in Whitehorse. The government sector is by far the largest employer in the territory, directly employing approximately 5,000 out of a labor force of 12,500.
In late 2014 The Procurement School was approached by the Yukon government with a view to adopting training designed to ensure consistency and enhanced public procurement effectiveness for staff at all levels – from clerks through to senior executives, many of whom arrive with a private sector background. While online training provides easy access and just-in-time learning, the Yukon government preferred classroom training that could be customized, using internal templates, policies and ‘burning issues’ to ensure direct relevance to their most urgent training needs. Along with creating a solid foundation and knowledge base for their procurement professionals, classroom training would also provide an opportunity for the various departments to connect and share their unique perspectives, knowledge and issues, with a chance to build social bonds, promote cross-functional team building, and connect to the strategic objectives of the organization.
