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The School Works Co-op and Apprentice Wage Subsidy programs are open to businesses, non-profit and First Nations organizations, and public bodies with business headquarters located within the Columbia Basin Trust region. The Apprentice Wage Subsidy supports hiring apprentices for full-time employment to complete their first-level work-based training requirements with an $8/hour wage subsidy, and will also support the retention of participating apprentices through their second-level requirements with a $4/hour wage subsidy. The Co-op Wage Subsidy is available for the hiring of students participating in a recognized co-op program, for an $8/hour wage subsidy. Employers are expected to top up wages to the market wage rate for the position. Applications are accepted on first come, first-served basis.

The British Columbia SR&ED Tax Credit program is designed to encourage research and development in British Columbia that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes. The tax credit is available to qualifying corporations that carry on scientific research and experimental development in B.C. before September 1, 2022 and must be claimed no later than 18 months after the end of the tax year in which the qualified expenditures are incurred.

Innovate BC currently offers two funding programs for BC businesses.

Innovator Skills Initiative program  

The Innovator Skills Initiative program has been expanded to make a positive impact on the B.C. economy, particularly for people that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The Innovator Skills Initiative program will help create a more diverse tech sector and, with talent shortages filled, B.C. businesses will have the opportunity to expand and grow. 

The Innovator Skills Initiative program aims to help under-represented people get their first job in the tech sector by ensuring placements for under-represented people are available in the tech sector. 

Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) program 

Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y), a program funded by the Federal Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), aims to match underemployed youth with small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and not-for-profit organizations to provide meaningful work experience to support their successful transition to career-oriented employment in the digital economy. 

For questions about the programs or process, please contact us at programs@innovatebc.ca and include the program name (Innovator Skills Initiative or DS4Y) in the email subject. 

The SWPP (Student Work Placement Program) was initiated by the Federal government in 2017 to distribute over $73 million dollars in funding (2017-2021) for employers and organizations supporting students engaging in WIL. This funding will continue for a further 2 years (2022-23), with requirements for funding returning to pre-pandemic guidelines from April 2022. The following sections layout the different funding options available and relevant programs/industries.

The SWPP funding is distributed by 15+ industry specific delivery partners, they work with businesses and post-secondary education institutions to:

• provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements, and
• create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to recruit students for these placements

SWPP General Guidelines

• Funding can be applied for students participating in mentorship programs, co-op placements, practicums, and internships. Some funding partners will also support other forms of WIL including applied research, apprenticeship and work experience.
• Up to $5,000 for every student you hire through the program
• Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including:
  • women in STEM
  • persons with disabilities
  • newcomers
  • Indigenous students
  • visible minorities
• Must hire net new
• Not available for Post-Secondary institutions or government organizations (federal, provincial or municipal)
• Check each delivery partner for specific requirements

Overview

The Cultural Human Resources Council is a national not-for-profit arts service organization working with all cultural industries and disciplines in the sector including Digital Media (Content Creators); Film and Television; Live Performing Arts; Music and Sound Recording; Visuals Arts and Crafts; Writing and Publishing; and Heritage. CHRC is seeking applications from cultural sector employers.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = All post-secondary education students are eligible. Does not have to be co-op, full-time students and part-time students are eligible.
• Program Areas = All program areas could qualify as this funding is not industry specific, but the employer must be  in the cultural sectors which includes Digital Media; Film and Television; Live Performing Arts; Music and Sound Recording; Visuals Arts and Crafts; Writing and Publishing; and Heritage.
• $5,000 to $7,000
• No specific time period is suggested, contact CHRC for more details (see link to email below)
• Application takes  about10 minutes no decision timeline details available.
• Contact - Email CHRC

Employer Eligibility

• Canadian cultural sector employers - not-for-profit and for-profit.
• Canadian government institutions (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) are not eligible.

Student Eligibility

Post-secondary students are the future of the Canadian labour force. It is important to prepare them and help them develop professional skills while they are completing their studies. The SWP program creates paid quality work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for students so that they can develop the work-ready skills that are required to secure meaningful employment upon graduation. There is no age limit.

The student must be a post-secondary student enrolled in a recognized Canadian PSE institution (university, college, CEGEP, polytechnic); a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.

Overview

Environmental Student Work Placement Program

Sometimes it is not enough to have successfully completed your post-secondary education in order to get started in your career. Competition for entry-level roles can be high; which is why it is important to start taking control of your career journey and participate in employment programs like this one!

Thanks to the support Employment and Social Development Canada, we are able to connect post-secondary students all over Canada with environmental jobs that make a difference. This program provides your prospective employer with funding to fill short-term work placements specifically geared to help you make the shift from school to the working world.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op
• Program Areas = Program areas Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) or Business.
• $5,000 to $7,000
• Placements must be a 180 hrs and 6 – 16 weeks in length
• Application timeline not available
• Call Eco Canada - 1-800-890-1924

Qualifying Placements

• Municipalities, Territorial or Provincial Governments are not eligible under the Student Work Placement Program (Co-op)
• Placements must be a 180 hrs and 6 – 16 weeks in length
• ɫɫɫ��Ƭ will be able to work from home
• Federal funding, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), cannot exceed 100% of the wages earned when combined with the ECO Canada Student Work Placement (SWP) funding

Overview

Food Processing Skills Canada’s Student Work Placement Program+ is a program for employers in the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry to hire students in colleges and universities across the country. Posting a job, hiring a college or university student, and accessing up to $7,000 in wage subsidy is easy.

This program has been designed to support employers in connecting with students across all educational categories from food science to business, engineering and quality assurance. Workplace integrated learning (WIL) is a proven method in bridging barriers between employers, students and jobseekers. WIL provides individuals, both on the employer and employee side of the equation, to explore business development relationships and career pathways. These types of placements also provide an excellent forum for employers to “test” new skill sets in the workplace and students to “trial” their education in a professional setting. Often, students will return to the company following graduation for full time employment.

To support robust diversity and inclusion within the industry, Food Processing Skills Canada has identified specific demographic groups to encourage integration of student – employer matching in the following areas:

• Women in STEM
• First-year students
• Recent immigrants (within last 5 years)
• Indigenous people
• Visible Minorities
• Persons with disabilities

This exciting program will connect colleges and universities, employers, community agencies and industry associations in the common goal of attracting skilled and enthusiastic new leaders to the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op and other WIL (not specified on website), as long as the placement type is a Work-Integrated Learning component of their program of study.
• Program Areas =  Culinary and Pastry Arts, but all program areas could qualify as long as related to food processing industry
• $5,000 to $7,000
• Application  decision usually within 2 months
• Contact - Email FPSC

Qualifying  ɫɫɫ��Ƭ/Placements

• Registered as a domestic student in a recognized post-secondary institution
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
• Must have a work-integrated learning component within their study plan
• Undertaking a placement that is recognized as work-integrated learning in connection with a course, degree, certificate, diploma, or other recognized program offered by the institution. The placement can be required or optional, for credit or not for credit.
• Graduate students (including Masters and PhD’s) are eligible.
• Can be in a full or part-time program
• Can be from any program of study

Overview

ICTC’s WIL Digital is an innovative Work Integrated Learning program that helps employers grow their businesses by providing wage subsidies for hiring post-secondary students.

What is required to Qualify

•  Applications must be from a Registered business or Not-for-profit organization, that provides a student with a meaningful work placement which includes a Digital or Technology component and uses technology in some capacity
• The student has domestic status and is enrolled in a program at a Canadian accredited post-secondary institution, during the work placement period. Please refer to our Student Program Guide for more details

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op, other forms of WIL may be eligible, check with ICTC for details
• Program Areas = All program areas could qualify if role is Digital or Technology component and uses technology in some capacity
• $5,000 to $7,000
• Application takes 10-15 minutes, decision within 7-10 business days
• Contact - careerready@technationcanada.ca

Not sure if your role will qualify? For more information, please connect with the .

WIL e-Learning Courses

ICTC’s innovative E-learning courses, designed with the expertise from industry partners and academic experts, introduce post-secondary students to pertinent digital industry skills and knowledge that will better support students in their career development. This exclusive program is available at no cost to WIL Digital students.    

Eligible students can participate in one or more of the following courses:

• Accessibility in Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing & IIoT, Big Data Fundamentals and Impact, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Financial Literacy, Fintech, Intelligent Retail and Commerce, Service Design and Telecom, IoT, 5G

Overview

The Magnet Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) brings together employers, students, and post-secondary school stakeholders to create quality work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities.

The program provides employers with wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students for paid work experiences. ɫɫɫ��Ƭ in turn benefit with quality work experience so they can secure employment in their chosen fields of study.

Together, they partner with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to:

• Provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements
• Create recruitment opportunities to match students to the right placements
• Convene educators and employers to help align PSE curricula to the skills needs of industry

Funding is limited and administered on a first-come, first-served basis wherein completed applications are prioritized in the order they are received.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Applied research, apprenticeships, co-op, entrepreneurship, field placements, internships, mandatory professional practicum / clinical placement, service learning, work experience or capstone projects - As long as the placement type is a Work-Integrated Learning component of their program of study.
• Program Areas = All program areas could qualify as this funding is not industry specific
• $5,000 to $7,000
• There is no minimum or maximum length as long as the WIL component of the student’s program of study covers the duration of the placement. The only maximum is the amount of funding that can be received per placement
• Application takes 10 minutes decision usually within 2 - 4 weeks
• Contact - Magnet

Qualifying Placements

• Employers will be able to apply for funding before they finalize their selection of students to hire.
• ɫɫɫ��Ƭ will be able to work from home.
• Stacking with provincial tax credits is allowed, but it’s the employer’s responsibility to follow their provincial tax credit guidelines and consult a tax professional. Wage subsidy funds cannot be counted toward any tax credits, only actual paid wages
• Placements can be partially funded by non-federal (provincial, municipal, territorial) government funds provided these funds and the funds from the SWPP together do not exceed 100% of the gross wage paid to the student during the placement

Overview

Startups and small businesses often lack the resources or time to address finding, paying for, and integrating interns. VFC offers Canada’s only Internship Program that exposes driven university and college students to entrepreneurial & work-readiness training so they can contribute from day one.

Flexible Painless process

Many student internships and co-op programs require employers to think inside the box. VFC's fast and supported funding, hiring, and training processes were designed with the realities of entrepreneurs and small businesses in mind. Plus, we offer part-time or full-time internships and flexible start dates to suit your needs.

Intrapreneurship Program

 In addition to internship/co-op opportunities, Venture for Canada also supports shorter term projects. The innovation projects you wish you had more time for. Get the attention they need from 'Intrapreneurs' over 7 weeks. VFC pays students from underserved communities while they gain invaluable experience.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op, entrepreneurship, internships, - As long as the placement type is a Work-Integrated Learning component of students' program of study.
• Program Areas = Studying any discipline, at any diploma or degree level. company must meet requirements as outlined below. Jobs areas could include; Sales, Marketing, Software, Hardware Dev, Finance, and Operations. We want to support all entrepreneurial jobs, other types are encouraged!
• $5,000 to $7,000
• Maximum 20 weeks
• Application takes 10 minutes decision if application can proceed in 3 business days
• Contact

Qualifying Employers

To meet the conditions of our funding, businesses and internships must meet the following criteria:

• Be a small or medium-sized business, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity
• Have a physical office (pre-Covid) in one of the following Canadian provinces: the Northern Territories, BC, AB, SK, MB, QC, NB, NS, PE or NL
• Employ fewer than 500 people
• Provide a safe and supportive internship that develops innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities

Summer Cohort Information

• Employer applications will be accepted until April 1, 2022
• Employers must submit student hire information by April 8, 2022 (or until funding has been fully allocated).
• Internship START date window: April 18, 2022 - May 16, 2022.
• Internship END date window: June 13, 2022 - October 3, 2022.
• Funding will be allocated until April 8, 2022 or until we have reached capacity. We will notify all Eligible Employers by email when 70% of our funding has been allocated.
• Internships cannot exceed 20 weeks.

Overview

Technation accepts applications from registered Canadian businesses and non-profits who can provide a meaningful, tech-focused work placement opportunity to a student. Large financial sector employers are no longer eligible, as well as post-secondary institutions and municipalities.

ɫɫɫ��Ƭ must be registered in an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution and must work in a role that is tech immersive – although they aren’t required to be studying something in tech! Check out our student resources to learn more. Unfortunately, we can’t award this subsidy to international students at this time.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op
• Program Areas = All program areas could qualify if role is tech focused
• $5,000 to $7,000
• ɫɫɫ��Ƭ must be employed for 12-16 weeks
• Application takes 10 minutes decision within 5-10 business days
• Contact - careerready@technationcanada.ca

What roles qualify?

Technation supports any tech-immersive roles across many different disciplines and functions, and you don’t need to be a tech company to promote tech skills development. Some common examples include:

• Marketing: market research, industry analysis, digital marketing, branding, design, communications
• Strategy: consulting, analysts, business development
• Data & tech: data analysis, AI / machine learning, software development, IT support

Program Coordinators (Technation) are available if you have any questions regarding eligible roles by email.

Overview

Aimed squarely at the tourism and hospitality sector, the Propel Student Work Placement Program is a new initiative to help the hardest-hit sector recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic.

Funded by the Government of Canada through the , Propel offers registered Canadian businesses, startups, and not-for-profits related to the tourism and hospitality sector a wage subsidy of up to 70% of a qualifying student’s wages, to a maximum of $7,000.

The wage subsidy is available for employers who hire students enrolled at a recognized post-secondary institution for a paid position to fulfil the co-op or internship component of their program. The wage subsidy can be accessed by businesses from all facets of the visitor economy: accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. 

Learn more by  , which includes an overview of the eligibility criteria and application process.

Fast facts

• WIL Types = Co-op, internships, practicums, mentorships, field placements, applied projects
• Program Areas =  Culinary arts, pastry Arts, tourism management, all program areas could qualify if with a tourism/hospitality employer and/or related to a tourism/hospitality job function
• $5,000 to $7,000
• Minimum 4 weeks and 20 hours per week to access funding (Co-op program requirements may be longer/more hours)
• No details available on application decision timing
• Contact - Propel

Qualifying Placements

• Full- or part-time work-integrated learning opportunity
• A minimum of 20 hours a week
• A minimum of 4 weeks
• With a tourism/hospitality employer and/or related to a tourism/hospitality job function
• Taking place in a safe environment
• On-site, remote, and hybrid placements are all eligible
• Not funded by other federal grants or programs (including Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy [CEWS] and Canada Recovery Hiring Program [CRHP])
• Student must be hired as an employee of the company (not as an independent contractor)
• Employer cannot hire an immediate family member, unless a clear, transparent, and fair nepotism policy is in place
• Student cannot be replacing a displaced worker or filling a role left vacant due to a labour dispute

• Email propel@tourismhr.ca if you have questions on any of the above.

There are many partners available to employers to access SWPP funding and we have highlighted a few key relevant opportunities above, but there are so many more.

Below is a list of the other SWPP partners, click the name to access further details.

Through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), Canadian small and medium-sized businesses can receive funding and other supports to increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market. Funding is available through technology innovation projects and youth employment strategy programs for incorporated, profit-oriented businesses in Canada with under 500 employees planning to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada. Inquiries are accepted year-round.

The Mitacs Accelerate program provides support for research partnerships including funding for internships. Organizations partner with academic researchers to develop a project proposal, and must provide a financial contribution of at least $7,500, which is matched by Mitacs. Projects can include multiple interns and span multiple terms. Interns spend about half the term on site working on the research issue in question and collecting data, and the balance of their time at their university further advancing the research under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. Applications are accepted year-round.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help small businesses, public sector employers, and non-profit organizations to hire students under the age of 30 during the summer term. Funding is available to approved employers for up to 50 per cent of minimum wage for private companies and public sector employers, and up to 100 per cent of the minimum wage for non-profit organizations. Applications are accepted in mid January of each year; approval notifications are sent to employers in April.

Canada Green Corps provides support for internships with organizations that are committed to the green economy and contribute to Canada’s commitments on climate and environment. Eligible employers can include non-profit organizations, governments, Indigenous organizations and private companies. This opportunity is not for existing students - interns must be recent students or graduates eligible to work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) fields and able to work full-time. Applications are accepted year-round.