Funding for employers

Career Focus provides funding to organizations for the creation of agricultural internships that provide career-related work experiences for recent graduates.

• each year, employers must apply between November 1 and November 30 for their project to be considered
• if approved, projects can start on or after April 1 of the following year
• approved projects will be eligible to receive 50% of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $20,000 in matching funds
• applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis as long as funds are available. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early

Learn more.

The B.C. Employer Training Grant (ETG) provides up to $8 million in funding for employers to support skills training for their current and new employees in the fiscal year 2018/2019.

This program is designed to assist employers in providing skills training to new or current employees that will develop skills and certification, upgrade skills needed due to automation and enhance productivity.

Learn more.

Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) connects underemployed recent post-secondary graduates with small businesses and not-for-profit organizations where they can gain meaningful work experience to help them transition to career-oriented employment. Funding is available to help hire.

Learn more.

To help young Canadians get started in a green career, Natural Resources Canada is investing more that $16 million to create 1,200 jobs through our Green Jobs - Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP), part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy.

Funding is available for both students and employers through this program. Learn more.

The Green Spaces program provides a wafe subsudy for eligible employers who hire summer work placements in parks and natural settings across Canada.

The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Summer Work Experience Program, in partnership with the United Nations Association in Canada.

Hiring a student for a co-op work term? Apply to get a $2,700 grant! 

The BC Tech Co-op Grants Program provides almost a 25% subsidy towards a co-op student’s salary.  The program is designed to help employers who are hiring young talent and to introduce students to tech-related careers. BC businesses benefit from co-op students’ fresh ideas and readiness to learn, while students  gain work experience and valuable business and technical skills.

Learn more about your eligibility for a BC Tech Co-op Grant. 

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) may provide funding to provincial ministry employers who wish to hire co-op students to work on projects that meet PICS main objectives. These objectives include low-carbon emissions research and research related to sustainable communities. For details, visit the PICS website or contact your co-op office.

The Green Spaces program provides a wafe subsudy for eligible employers who hire summer work placements in parks and natural settings across Canada.

The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Summer Work Experience Program, in partnership with the United Nations Association in Canada.

The Federal Government’s Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) supports partnerships between employers and post-secondary education (PSE) institutions to create more work placements for students enrolled in post-secondary studies across Canada. 

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) helps post-secondary students in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and business programs get work experience they need to prepare for jobs in these high-demand fields.

The program provides funding in the form of wage subsidies to employers that offer quality work to post-secondary students in occupations related to STEM and other highly technically fields:

• up to $5,000 for every student hired through the program
• up to $7,000 for every student hired that is in their first academic year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
• Wages for the position cannot be funded by another federally funded program

Eligible students are:

• registered in a post-secondary STEM or business program that includes work placements;
• a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person with refugee protection given under the law; and
• legally able to work in Canada according to the laws and regulations of the province or territory where they live

There are 10 employer delivery partners, listed below with an overview of their SWPP program. Eligibility and application processes vary across partners. Please see specific websites and contacts for more information.

Funding: 

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement
• Only the first half of an 8-month work term is eligible

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Either the co-op position needs to have a biotechnology focus or the employer needs to have a biotechnology focus.
• Business roles at Biotech companies are eligible; research positions at academic institutions are not eligible

Students:

• Cannot have prior work experience within the organization

Work opportunity criteria:

• A minimum of 16 weeks, 5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day
• The placement must be over and above the number of placements hired the year before first participating in the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program
• Employers can apply more than once but must increase their baseline hiring by creating an additional position. The goal of the program is to increase the number of co-op positions available. For example: if you have never hired a student before, your baseline hiring is 0 (zero) and if you hire 6 students, you can apply for all 6 students. You would have to complete a separate application for each student

How to apply:

The employer must apply to the program once they have identified a candidate; however, they can reach out to BioTalent Canada at any time to ask about eligibility etc. 

Employers:

• Have the candidate complete the Participation Information Form (PIF) and include a resume and a copy of the participant’s proof of post-secondary enrollment. If submitting electronically, please do not include the participant’s date of birth and Social Insurance Number
• Complete an Employer Application Form (included in the application package) and submit it along with a brief company description, and a description of the intended participant’s co-op position. Please note with the high volume of applications received, links will not be accepted
• Have the candidate and post-secondary institution complete the Co-op Agreement Form
• A formal learning plan must be submitted before the placement begins
• Submit all completed forms to Mary Carr at mcarr@biotalent.ca

Students:

• Must be approved for program participation prior to starting the placement. This process takes up to 10 business days

Deadlines & Availability:

There are a total of 250 placements for the year from May 2018 to April 2019 with most grants being given in the summer.

• Applications for 16-week Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Winter 2019 co-op placements are no longer being accepted
• Applications for 16-week Summer 2019 co-op placements are expected to be accepted from February 2019

Questions?

Mary at 1-866-243-2472, ext. 222 or mcarr@biotalent.ca
Colleen, ext. 221 or chayes@biotalent.ca

Program page: Student Work Placement Program

The Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA) delivers the federal SWPP program for the aviation and aerospace sector.

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Aviation and Aerospace sector organizations; they do not have to be members of CCAA

Students:

• Must be in a STEM or Business program

Work opportunity criteria:

• No more than 10 placements per employer
• All placements must be ‘net new’ (i.e. over and above the number of co-op placements they’ve hired in previous terms)
• The same student may be allocated a grant for multiple work terms
• There MUST be an industry component – the focus of the subsidies is hands-on experience, so a research-only position does not qualify
• The role must be a STEM or Business position in the Aerospace and Aviation industry to qualify;
• Examples of Business related roles that qualify include: HR, accounting, project management, service or operations management, supply chain logistics

How to apply:

Employers:

1. complete the CCAA Employer application form to enrol in the program; it includes information regarding the specific student hired for a specific role.  Employers can check in advance that they / their role are suitable for the program but cannot apply without knowing which student is to be hired

Students:

1. complete the CCAA Student application form after receiving a placement offer from a participating employer.  The employer submits the form

Deadlines & Availability:

• Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 grants have been allocated. Spring (May) 2019 is the next available term for grants
• Employers should apply as far in advance as possible; the policy is that applications can be accepted no later than one week prior to the student starting. If all forms are completed properly, the approval takes only a few days

Questions?

Theresa Davis-Woodhouse, Director of Project Management, 613-727-8272, ext. 247 or tdaviswoodhouse@avaerocouncil.ca

Program page: Student Work-Integrated Learning Program

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Small to medium-sized, Canadian owned or a Canadian subsidiary
• Primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power
• Engaged in the manufacturing of equipment and the provision of services to the industry
• Companies supporting the sector including renewables which includes R&D, business development, energy efficiency, energy storage, electrical vehicle integration and smart cities
• Research firms as long as they are not receiving other Federal funding for the position

Students:

• Be a current full‑time student registered in a post‑secondary, STEM or business program in Canada studying science, technology, engineering, math or business
• The position is either fulfilling an electricity job function or the work is with an electricity employer

Work opportunity criteria:

• Work term must be full-time defined as 16 weeks, 5 days/week and 7.5 hours/day
• The company must provide a minimum of $1 for each $1 of wage subsidy, or a minimum of $1 for each $2.33 for first-year students and under-represented groups
• The company must provide reporting documentation to EHRC including offer letter, a formal learning plan and monthly financial claims and progress reports for the student
• Currently, employers are limited to 10 applications

How to apply:

Employers:

1. EHRC’s preference is that employers apply for the funding after they hire the student, but pre-approvals are possible
2. Complete the Employer Application Form which includes a brief company description and the job description
3. Applications are usually approved within five business days

Students:

1. Complete the Participant Information Form which includes your resume and transcript

Deadlines & Availability:

• There are no deadlines for applications but funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis and applications should be submitted before the student begins the work term

Questions?

Contact: Jillian Karner, Project Coordinator karner@electricityhr.ca

Program page: Empowering Futures

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 (50% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement
• Applications from indigenous students may be fast-tracked
• Cannot be combined with other federal funding opportunities; the employer must show that they are paying at least 50% of the student’s salary

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidiary operating in the environmental sector.  Small and medium sized firms are the primary target, but applications have been approved for larger organizations if the job is a great fit for the program

Students:

• are currently studying in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) or Business at a Canadian post secondary institution
• are under 30 years old

Work opportunity criteria:

• Full-time work (minimum 30 hrs per week) for a 12 to 16-week term duration in an environmental capacity
• Only one application is approved per employer

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Complete Host Application
2. Get Approved by SWPP Team. Applications take 10 days to process
3. Find an Eligible Student and have them apply
4. Host and Student Approved and Matched by at least two weeks prior to the placement start date
5. Start Co-op Placement and receive subsidy installments

Students:

1. Apply here: https://www.eco.ca/SWPP/studentquiz.aspx

Deadlines and availability:

• Fall 2018 subsidies have been allocated; there is a waitlist
• About 15 subsidies are expected to be available for the 2019 winter term. Applications will be open for one month from October 15 - November 15. All applications will be reviewed at once and approvals will be sent out by November 17 to those that have secured funding.

Questions?

info@eco.ca, Toll-free: 1-800-890-1924

Program page: Wage Subsidy Program to hire Environmental Students

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Registered business in Canada working in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, intelligent retail, big data, clean tech, connected transportation, entertainment and gaming, e-Health or another emerging technology
• Hiring for positions in IT, business development, digital marketing or technical sales
• Employers from the public sector, research institutions or not-for-profits are not eligible for the funding

Students:

• Full-time student in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or business at a Canadian post secondary institution
• Cannot be immediate family members of the employer
• Students can only receive WIL Digital funding once

Work opportunity criteria:

• Funding is provided for net new positions
• Employers can receive funding for more than one student per term based on availability
• The position cannot be subsidized by other federal provincial or municipal funds
• The position is not vacant due to dispute, termination, lay off or other occurrences
• Must carry general liability insurance

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Submit the Employer Application Form including company information, business registration number, proof of comprehensive liability insurance, NAICS code, job description, salary and information about the student to be hired
2. Ask the student to complete the Student Application Form. Applications must be completed four weeks before the start of the work term
3. Applications are usually processed within two weeks. Once approved, employers sign a contract with ICTC. This must happen before the student starts their employment

Students:

1. Submit the Student Information Form including proof of citizenship, proof of full-time registration (written confirmation from your institution with legal name, confirmation of enrolment, program and current year of study) and details about your placement

Deadlines & Availability:

Please contact WIL Digital program

Questions?

Contact: wil_digital@ictc-ctic.ca

Program page: WIL Digital

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Students:

• Must be a current full-time student registered in a post-secondary Business Technology Management (BTM), Computer Science, Computer Systems Technology, Computer Engineering or alike program in Canada
• Cannot be related to or friends of the employer

Work opportunity criteria:

• Full-time work for a minimum 12-week term duration in a business and technology or technology capacity
• See Getting Started for examples of eligible roles
• Employers must demonstrate that the work term is in addition to their previous hiring
• There is a cap of three students per employer per work term

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Complete the Employer Eligibility Assessment form, which includes the job description
2. Application approval process is 5 – 10 days. https://itactalent.ca/careerready/employers

Students:

1. Apply to a position from any job board or sign up through the Career Ready matching technology portal. The portal is linked to your school’s work term office and they will be notified once you apply for a position
2. Once hired, complete the Participant Information Form
   https://itactalent.ca/careerready/students/

Deadlines & Availability:

Applications for Fall 2018 Wage Subsidy funding close August 17th, 2018. Employers will be notified of status (Approved, Wait-listed, Not Approved) by August 27^th.

Questions?

Jan Hall, Outreach Coordinator, jhall@itac.ca, T: 905-301-7751

Program Page: Career Ready Program

MaRS is an urban innovation district, which allow entrepreneurs access to corporations, investors, mentors, university institutions and labs to test their concepts. MaRS Discovery District includes about 150 tenants and 1200 organizations across Ontario.  

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement
• In addition to work placements, students complete a MaRS-designed curriculum to help them build the skills and mindsets required for success in a fast-paced work environment. This involves a 4 day orientation program, spread out over the work placement period

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Scaling ventures and corporations in Technology and Business are encouraged to hire students through the WIL program

Students:

• Students must be studying in fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or business

Work opportunity criteria:

• The four key sectors supported by MaRS are Health, Finance & Commerce, Energy & Environment and Work & Learning
• Employers must offer a minimum 12-week placement and hire students who have never been employees of their organization

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Contact MaRS Discovery District directly (Kareen Ndema - kndema@marsdd.com)

Students:

1. Apply to individual job postings on the MaRS job board (see link below)

Deadlines & Availability:

Co-op opportunities are posted on the MaRS board 2-4 months prior to the start of each academic term (i.e. post in  May/June for September start, October/November for January start and January/February for May start). 

Questions?

Kareen Ndema - kndema@marsdd.com, (416) 673 6501

Program page: Student Work-Integrated Learning Program

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Canadian-owned or Canadian subsidiary
• Small, medium or large company involved in mining or mineral exploration
• Post secondary institution
• Non-profit organization

Students:

• Current, full‑time student registered in a post‑secondary, STEM or business program in Canada studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics or business

Work opportunity criteria:

• The position has to be net new – an additional position from previous hiring
• The WIL placement must be part of the student’s degree requirements

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Complete the 2-page Program Application Form
2. Once approved, sign Gearing up Contract
3. Applications are approved within 24 - 48 hours

Students:

1. Sign WIL participant contract
2. Complete Participant Information Form

Deadlines & Availability:

• There are no deadlines for applications but funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis and applications should be submitted before the student begins the work term

Questions?

Contact: Jennifer Wright, Senior Director, Employment and Diversity Initiatives

E: jwright@mihr.ca

Program page: Gearing Up

ASPIRE is a Canadian work-integrated learning initiative designed to increase the quality and quantity of student opportunities in the Financial Services sector; and attract, upskill and retain in-demand student talent in Financial Services.

Funding:

ASPIRE is a little different to other SWPP programs in that co-op opportunities are not subsidized.  Aspire Financial Services providers may post co-op opportunities without charge on the Aspire job-matching platform, which provides a centralized place for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) students to view all current work-integrated learning opportunities in the Financial Services sector.  When clicking on an opportunity, the student is taken directly to the employer website to apply.  There is no financial cost to employers beyond the cost of the actual student wages (and any related costs) for the paid placements. 

Students hired through the ASPIRE program receive access to business skills training to supplement their academic training, especially in the areas of project management, business communications and presentation skills. 

Who can apply:

Employers:

• ASPIRE is open to Financial Services providers from across Canada; membership in TFI is not required

Students:

• Access to ASPIRE job postings is open to all students attending postsecondary institutions in Canada who are legally able to work and are returning to school the next semester

Work opportunity criteria:

• Co-ops, internships, temporary and contact roles

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Contact Kathy Smart at ksmart@tfi.ca

Students:

1. Sign up at: http://www.aspirefs.ca/#students
2. View postings on the Magnet platform – access at: https://magnet.whoplusyou.com/lp/aspire. Note, you will need to open a Magnet account and upload a resume to view postings

Deadlines & Availability:

Information not available at this time.

Questions?

Contact Kathy Smart at kksmart@tfi.ca

Program page: http://www.aspirefs.ca/

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 - $7,000 (50% - 70% wage subsidy) per SWPP placement

Who can apply:

Employers:

• Companies and non-profits based in the Atlantic provinces

Students:

• Students from across Canada interested in entrepreneurship and innovation

Work opportunity criteria:

• A standard placement is defined as 5 days a week; 7.5 hours a day for 14-16 weeks.

How to apply:

Employers:

1. Apply here to host an Intern and receive funding

Students:

1. Apply here to be a Venture for Canada Intern
2. Students can apply directly through Venture for Canada and they will match them with job opportunities based on their skills, interests, personality fit and other metrics

Deadlines & Availability:

There is still funding available for September 2018 internships. Venture for Canada uses a rolling application method so students and companies can apply year-round.

Questions?

• For Atlantic Canadian employers looking to hire a student, please contact Jamie Proctor Boyce, Partnerships Manager, Atlantic Internship Program: Jamie@ventureforcanada.ca
• For students, please contact Erica Ormiston, Marketing Coordinator, Atlantic Internship Program: erica@ventureforcanada.ca
  
• Program Page: Venture for Canada

Hiring a student for the summer? Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It's designed to focus on local priorities while helping both students and their communities.

Employers can apply for this funding through Service Canada. The application period typically runs from early January to early February, but please refer to the Service Canada website for specific dates.

See a sample employer application for Canada Summer Jobs (pdf) (UVic applicant)

Important notes for UVic applicants:

• Student work cannot take away from union work. If you have questions about whether the work qualifies as union-exempt "student" employment or whether it might be considered work included under one of the UVic labour unions, please contact your HR advisor for support before submitting your application.
• You must submit all applications directly to Service Canada (without union concurrence documentation). You must also email a copy—including the confirmation number)—to Jada Tasker at jadat@uvic.ca for Co-op and Career Services records no later than the February 2, 2018 deadline.
• When the UVic Co-op Program and Career Services receives a copy of your application, we will check it for completeness and will work with UVic Human Resources to obtain concurrence letters where required. You can then send these to Service Canada to complete your application.

Young Canada Works (student summer job programs and graduate internships) are designed to meet your hiring needs in the arts, heritage, cultural and official languages sectors.

This program provides youth with summer employment opportunities where they can gain work experience and develop important skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork.

The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program is part of the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.

Learn more.

National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program provides innovation and funding services to accelerate the growth of business.

NSERC’s Experience Awards (previously Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards [IUSRA]) offer companies access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address company-specific R&D challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience. Experience Awards also let companies identify potential future full-time employees.

Interested in pursuing a joint research project with UVic? Through Mitacs Accelerate BC, you can hire a graduate co-op student to spend half of a four-month work term researching a topic of interest to the student, their faculty supervisor and your company.

Mitacs Accelerate BC and you, the employer, will both contribute $7,500 for a four-month work term. The student will spend half the work term at your workplace and the other half at UVic, where they’ll work on research under the guidance of the faculty supervisor.

Mitacs Accelerate BC is a chance to expand your company’s research and development, foster a deeper relationship with UVic and help out future collaborative projects. To learn more about Accelerate and its eligibility conditions, contact your co-op office or visit Mitacs Accelerate.

The following funding opportunities may be available to employers hiring engineering, computer science and math/stats students:

• Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive

• For small businesses (1-49 employees), non-profits, libraries, school boards, municipalities, First Nations, Métis Settlements, and publicly-funded post-secondary institutions
• Students must be residents of Alberta and meet other specified criteria.

Learn more.

• The official student employment placement service for the government of Manitoba
• Students must be attending school and meet other specified criteria

Learn more.

• For eligible employers operating in Saskatchewan in the Sports and Recreation Sector, Cultural Sector and Environmental Sector
• Students must be residents of Saskatchewan and meet other specific criteria

Learn more.