Learning and development

We recognize that building a successful career involves continual learning and growth, and we have developed a range of programs and supports to help our employees achieve their full potential and make a significant contribution to the organization and the wider community.

At Vancity, we align our vision and values with the needs of our members, so that our success helps to build healthy communities. A performance-planning cycle connects individual performance to organizational goals, and helps each employee's contribution positively impact the community in which they live and serve.

Orientation

All new employees will attend three workshops where they will learn what differentiates us as a financial cooperative and how we work hard, every day, to build a world that is clean and fair. In addition, employees who deal directly with our members receive structured training to prepare them to provide the best advice and service. By providing an in-depth introduction to our vision for social, economic, and environmental sustainability, we give our employees a solid foundation on which to build future career success and make a positive impact in our community.

Ongoing learning and development

We support learning in the broadest sense, and encourage our employees to gain new experience, learn as they go, and apply their knowledge and expertise in the service of member and community wellbeing.

Each employee can build an individual learning and development plan to meet his or her unique needs. We recognize that employees may have different learning styles, so we let them choose their preferred format, whether that's e-learning, challenging work assignments, coaching, classroom workshops, or formal training.

Each employee can apply for a tuition subsidy of up to $2400 per year to support on-going professional education.

In addition, our management and leadership development programs provide opportunities for our leaders, our members, and our community partners to learn, develop, and grow together. We also provide multiple opportunities to enable employees to deepen their knowledge of co-operatives by working with our co-operative partners, visiting co-operative communities, and completing formal education in co-operative practices.

Making a difference

At Vancity we support personal and professional growth that enables our employees to impact the community by serving member needs and considering their long-term well-being, not their short term transactions.

Many of our training and development programs are connected to the needs of the community, so that as we learn, we can apply that valuable expertise in the service of the greater good. For example, our Each One Teach One program enables staff to learn and develop while promoting financial literacy in our communities.