How Bruce Power Streamlines Workforce Learning With SkillsWave

Continuous training and skill development are imperative for organizations in high-reliability industries. Operating in high-hazard environments where failure comes at a great cost, organizations in these sectors require sharp, skilled minds in their workforce that can anticipate and manage uncertainty and risks. Such is the case for Bruce Power, one of the world’s largest nuclear energy stations. Based in Kincardine, Ontario, staff define the company as a “small town” that puts learning at the heart of their operations.  

But with over 8,000 employees, effectively providing professional development at scale can be difficult. In partnership with SkillsWave, Bruce Power has furthered solidified their culture of learning, empowering employees and facilitating workforce mobility through accessible development opportunities. 

Bruce Power’s Challenge 

Since specialized expertise is critical to carry out their jobs, Bruce Power employees require a mix of continuous, industry and government-mandated learning, alongside key professional development to build and maintain complex technical skills. 

As such, the company has invested in different training modalities throughout the years to develop talent internally, but those efforts brought forth other obstacles. “Prior to [adopting SkillsWave], people were [learning],” said Rob McIntosh, division manager, learning and performance at Bruce Power. “However, it was very difficult to track because it was done at an individual level through multiple academic institutes.”   

This decentralized process created several challenges for leadership: 

• Limited visibility into what employees were learning 
• Difficulty identifying which teams were actively upskilling and which ones needed more direction 
• Uncertainty around emerging skill interests across the workforce 

A Single Platform for Curated Learning  

To address these problems, Bruce Power required a solution that could simplify access to learning across the organization while giving their learning team insights into how employees were developing their skills. 

Through SkillsWave, employees at Bruce Power gained access to thousands of curated courses, offered in a variety of formats and credentials, including: 

• professional certifications 
• diplomas  
• micro-credentials  
• advanced degree programs 

This variety of learning modalities has allowed employees to pursue professional development that aligns with both their current roles and long-term careers goals, all while progressing at a pace that fits their busy schedules. 

“I’m a single parent, I have two young kids and work a full-time job,” said Bridget Shedden, senior business strategist, learning and performance at Bruce Power. “So, I needed [a course] that I could dedicate 8 hours to because I don’t know what all my evenings and weekends look like. [With SkillsWave], I knew the calendar date in advance, and I was able to block off the whole day. For me, that is success.” 

The SkillsWave Effect 

The impact of adopting SkillsWave goes beyond making courses easier to access. By offering their employees courses that specifically help fill skill gaps, Bruce Power has strengthened how professional development supports both employee growth and operational performance.  

For some Bruce Power employees, the value lies in the ability to immediately apply new skills on the job. 

“The courses have had a direct impact on me,” said Samantha Wiseman, organizational effectiveness specialist in operations. “Immediately following the courses, I can take what I’ve learned and instill that into the investigations I’m completing.” 

Others appreciate the flexibility the platform gives them to pursue meaningful learning and credentials alongside demanding careers. Lee Woodward, an MCR construction section manager at Bruce Power, said he completed a PMP course and RMP certificate to “help with [his] project management understanding and to legitimize [his] 26 years of previous experience in construction.” 

And for leaders, one of the most important aspects is the visibility they get into their workforce’s development. 

“When we started to use the SkillsWave platform, it really gave us the ability to go in and take a look at the analytics behind what people are taking, what their interests are, and what groups are upskilling,” said McIntosh.  

Leadership Support as a Catalyst for Development 

The success of workforce learning initiatives at Bruce Power is also rooted in strong leadership support. Leaders across the organization actively advocate for professional development and participate in learning themselves, reinforcing the value of continuous improvement throughout the company. 

This visible commitment helps create a culture where employees feel encouraged to invest in their own growth, knowing that development is both supported and valued at every level of the organization. 

By combining a strong internal learning culture with the scalable capabilities of SkillsWave, Bruce Power continues to empower its workforce while strengthening its ability to adapt in a highly specialized and evolving industry. 

Watch the full customer story to learn how Bruce Power is powering workforce development with SkillsWave.