Based in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Tradeworks Training Society helps foster sustainable independence by providing job-related skills, training, knowledge and work opportunities.  Operating with a special concern for women and youth. Tradeworks strives to be accountable, responsible and cooperative, believing that, in order to be most effective, it must be responsive to the community and sensitive to the individual by providing a safe supportive and equitable learning and working environment.

"Tradeworks Custom Products" is a new social enterprise designed to provide training & entry-level employment to women in the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona and adjacent neighbourhoods. The workers are low income women with no recent work history, often recovering from substance abuse or other personal trauma, and are lacking confidence and a sense of usefulness. They may also have young children, have modest literacy and life skills, and have no experience with power tools used in industries such as manufacturing. Many are Aboriginal. The project produces wood products and staff can finish these with customized laser engraving - including text, logos and even photos - to great effect. Tradeworks also does custom laser engraving work on other materials.

Tradeworks Training Society, in partnership with the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop, also offers a 30 week training and work experience program for young people who are not currently in the workforce. Participants have the opportunity to complete Level 1 (of four) of the Carpentry Apprenticeship program. The program includes up to 840 work experience hours that can be credited to the required apprenticeship experience hours.Participants receive an allowance of $8.00 per hour for instructional time and up to $15.00 per hour for work experience time. Those who successfully complete the 30 week program will receive a $500.00 bonus.