As part of the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a variety of funding opportunities are available for employers to hire students for the purposes of work-integrated learning. Canadian Employers are eligible to receive at least a 50% wage subsidy of up to a maximum $5,000. Additional funding may be available through SWPP, please contact EducationThatWorks@camosun.ca for more details.
If you hire a student to work 35 hours a week at $17.00/hour for 12 weeks, normally, your total cost for wages will be $7,140.
But with SWPP, your total cost would be $3,570.
Employer Eligibility
- A registered Canadian business or organization OR post-secondary education institution.
- Not a federal or provincial government organization.
- Financially capable to hire a student for a part- or full-time work term, pay them consistently and provide a meaningful work experience.
- Has less than 500 employees.
Student Eligibility
- A Canadian Citizen, permanent resident or a protected person defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Registered as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution program.
- Not an international student requiring (or on) a work permit.
- Not an immediate family member of the employer.
SWPP Delivery Partners
Magnet – Magnet Student Work Placement Program
- For employers in any sector: Any registered Canadian business or non-profit organizations. Municipal governments are not eligible for funding.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Employers must have a candidate to finalize their application.
- Apply here
Ontario Chambers of Commerce – Talent Opportunities Program (TOP)
The Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) is an initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce designed to help employers located anywhere in Canada hire college and university students on work placements.
Employers must be a registered Canadian business or not-for-profit organization, may be located anywhere in Canada, and may operate in any industry sector.
- For employers in any sector: Any registered Canadian business or non-profit organization except large corporations in the financial sector.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Employers must have a candidate to finalize their application.
- Apply here
Venture for Canada – Venture for Canada
- For employers in these sectors: No sector restriction, targeted employers are SMEs, start-ups, social enterprises, non-profits, or charities located in BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NS, PEI, or NL, with a maximum of 500 employees. This funding may be stacked with other, non-federal funding (such as the BC Tech Co-op Grant) such that the total grant amount covers upto $10,000 of the student’s salary. The combined value of grants cannot exceed the student’s salary.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Apply here
ICTC – WIL Digital Program
- For employers in these sectors: All sectors.
- For students in these programs: Business, arts & science, technology, engineering, math or business.
- Eligible roles: Focused on digital sectors, including emerging information technology (IT) & information communications technology (ICT).
- Employers can request funding before finalizing the selection of student hires.
- Apply here
TECHNATION – Career Ready Program
- For employers in these sectors: Private sector, non-profits, and hospitals but not federal, provincial, or municipal government, large financial institutions, or post secondary institutions.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: Students will be immersed in technology in a manner that is relevant to their field of study.
- Apply here
ECO Canada – Student Work Placement Program
- For employers in these sectors: Not restricted, except that federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments are not eligible.
- For roles that provide paid work in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art or Math (STEAM) and Business.
- For students in these programs: Science, technology, engineering, art, math (STEAM) and business.
- Eligible roles: Environmental roles.
- Funding needs to be approved before the student starts their placement. Once your funding is secured, you can begin your search for qualified, talented students to fill the position.
- Apply here
BioTalent – Student Work Placement Program
- For employers in these sectors: Bioscience/healthcare employer or fulfilling a bioscience/healthcare job function.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: Bioscience/healthcare sector employer or fulfilling a bioscience or health job function.
- Employers need to have a candidate before applying. Employers must hire the student first and once a candidate is identified they will apply for funding. The candidate cannot start their co-op until approval has been granted. It can take up to 10 business days to process an application.
- Apply here
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) – WilWorks Program
- For employers in these sectors: Any company in the manufacturing sector. Employers with approved placements will receive temporary membership to EMC.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Applications: Can be submitted before student is selected for pre-approval
- Apply here
Electricity Human Resources Canada – Empowering Futures
- For employers in these sectors: Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Sector support including renewables, in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency. Firms engaged in manufacturing of equipment and the provision of services necessary to generation, transmission or distribution.
- For students in these programs: Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business programs.
- Eligible roles: No restriction
- Apply here
Aspire Program
The Aspire program is a little different from other SWPP delivery partners’ because it does not fund student roles. However, it offers specialized training and support for students and promotional support to employers.
- For employers in these sectors: Financial services.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Apply here
Mining Industry Human Resources Council – Gearing Up Program
- Employer eligibility: Employers must be Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidary, and in one of the following categories: Small, medium or large companies involved in the mining or mineral exploration sector; post-secondary educational institution; or not-for profit organization.
- For students in these programs: Science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), or business.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Apply here
Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA)
- For employers in these sectors: Aviation and aerospace sector, including supplier organizations and post secondary institutions. Research positions at post-secondary institutions are not eligible.
- For students in these programs: No restriction.
- Eligible roles: No restriction.
- Apply here