A Practice Firm (PF) provides the perfect setting for unemployed individuals to gain ‘hands on’ experience in their field while at the same time actively looking for employment.The concept is to simulate the commercial activities of a real business however Practice Firms operate in a virtual world. Individual PFs transact with other PFs around the world using realistic business activities although no actual transfer of goods or money takes place. This unique idea was introduced in Germany 50 years ago and is rapidly gaining popularity in Canada. There are currently over 5500 Practice Firms worldwide and over 40 in Canada. Practice Firms help unemployed individuals break the cycle of no job/no experience by providing a simulated work environment in which they can apply and strengthen skills that are relevant to their field of expertise.

Simfit is operated by Job Skills, a non profit, community based employability agency that began offering employment training in northern York Region in 1988. Today, the agency provides employment and business services in York Region, Bradford, West Gwillimbury, Dufferin, Halton, Peel and Toronto. The services and programs delivered by Job Skills are designed to meet clients' individual requirements, as well as being flexible enough to respond to the needs of the community, changing employment conditions and shifts in the labour market.

Practice Firms are all about learning by doing in a supportive environment…to offer a work setting in which all the functions of a real business are conducted - accounting, administrative and clerical,communications, information technology, graphic design, marketing and sales, human resources, and purchasing. This provides an excellent opportunity for foreign-trained individuals, women who are re-entering the workforce, displaced persons, new graduates, and youth seeking their first job experience to refine and demonstrate the skills needed to find employment in their field.

Job Skills is the only Canadian company currently operating three Practice Firms located in Markham, Scarborough and Mississauga. Building on several successful years of operating Practice Firms, Job Skills opened Simfit, the newest Practice Firm in Mississauga, March 2006. With the support from its sponsor firm Premier-Curzons, Simfit offers superior Health and Fitness services to both the Canadian and European Practice Firm markets.

*Products and Services are only available to members and clients of the Canadian Practice Firms Network