The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) has announced $10.8 million in funding for the launch of the Digital Marketing Skills Canada (DMSC) program, powered by Upskill Canada.
Through this funding, Growclass, a Canadian tech leader in the Growth Marketing space, has been granted $1.7 million in funding to train 500 students by March 2025 from underrepresented communities across Canada.
Growclass is an award-winning course and community specializing in Growth Marketing with a mission to democratize digital marketing education.
“At Growclass, we believe that all marketers deserve an incredible career and to get paid what they are worth. This partnership with Upskill aligns with our mission to create the best digital marketing education and network that is accessible to all,” states Sarah Stockdale, Founder and CEO of Growclass.
“By focusing on underrepresented communities, we want to support and arm individuals with the skills needed to change their career trajectory and thrive in a growth marketing role.”
LinkedIn recently listed ‘Growth Manager’ as the number one fastest growing job in Canada.
Within that role, the current gender breakdown is 23 per cent female and 73 per cent male. Despite growth marketing being a lucrative, quickly growing job, there are not enough accessible ways for women and underrepresented communities to upskill to be considered for these roles.
The collaboration between Growclass and Upskill Canada underscores a commitment to diversity and inclusion by targeting underrepresented communities in digital marketing education.
The initiative will not only provide essential digital marketing skills but also pave the way for participants to embark on high-growth career opportunities, contributing to a more diverse and skilled workforce.
Supported by funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Upskilling for Industry Initiative, the DMSC program will run for seven weeks, with a goal to upskill 1,200 individuals by March 2025.