Ontario Employers Can Connect with Apprentices and Receive $20,000 Through “Bridging Skilled Trades”
Family Services Peel through their “Bridging Skilled Trades – Apprenticeship Service” program is providing financial incentives (up to $20,000.00)* and other support to Ontario employers to connect and hire new apprentices.
This program supports employers to register and become sponsors of new and existing staff in any one or more of the 39 red seal trades.
Small to Medium sized businesses (499 paid employees or less) that create apprenticeship positions and register an apprentice at first-year, level 1 apprenticeship in construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades will receive this financial incentive through Family Services of Peel Apprenticeship Service to offset part of the upfront costs of engaging a first-year apprentice. Additional financial support for employers will also be provided nationally (see below).
To help to create an inclusive workplace Family Services of Peel will provide employer-focused training in areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, Human Rights Principles and much more. One of their goals is to help improve the branding of the skilled trades, reverse negative attitudes, eradicate barriers, increase access to the skilled trades and help our community view careers in the skilled trades as valued and respected professions. Last and foremost, the aim is to increase the number of apprentices registered/sponsored nationally.
The program goal is also to facilitate the registration/sponsorship of 200 first-year, level 1 apprentices in Canada and ensure that each participant is supported in securing sponsored apprenticeships during the following years 2022-2024.
The Bridging Skilled Trades – Apprenticeship Service program provides financial incentives (up to $20,000.00)* and other support to the following employers:
-
Small to mid-size companies, with 499 paid employees or less to hire/register level 1, first-year apprentices in any of the 39 Red Seal skilled trades (manufacturing and construction) and serve as sponsors of those apprentices.
Financial Incentives to employers breakdown:
-
$5,000 (additional) for employers if the first-year apprentice is from an equity-deserving group (I.e., women, youth, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2+ communities, visible minorities, and newcomers)
-
provide additional support to help employers participate in the apprenticeship system (Note: that the apprentice may benefit indirectly from the support but must be directed at the employers)
-
Help with navigating the apprenticeship system
-
How to onboard apprentices
-
Welcoming workplace training
The experienced staff at Family Services of Peel will provide all eligible employers with this support and provide guidance in navigating the registration/sponsorship process, which is not as difficult as it once was in the past.
Some frequently asked questions:
Can an eligible employer hire an apprentice if that person worked for the company as a general labourer before they were hired as a first-year apprentice?
YES, as long as the employee became a first-year Red Seal apprentice after an agreement was signed with FSpeel and employers, it is acceptable that the apprentice was already employed with the same employer.
Can an eligible SME hire an apprentice if they were already an apprentice, but in different trade?
YES, as long as the employee became a first-year Red Seal apprentice AFTER the agreement was signed with FSP/SME, it is acceptable that the apprentice was previously an apprentice in a different trade.
Can an eligible employer hire an apprentice if they already apprenticed with a different employer before?
YES, as long as the employee was not currently employed by another employer at the same time that the SME hires them, and qualified as a first-year Red Seal apprentice (Did not progress to the next level), it is acceptable to hire an apprentice that was previously apprenticing with another employer.
Can an eligible employer hire an apprentice if they are registered with a union as an apprentice?
YES, it is acceptable to hire an apprentice if the employee is registered with a union as an apprentice whether or not the union is the official employer and pays the apprentice’s salary
Who receives the financial incentive and additional support if the union pays the apprentice’s salary?
If the employer is the union (paying the apprentice) and provided that the union meets the requirement to qualify as a small and medium-sized employer under the Apprenticeship service program (must have 499 paid employees or less at the time that it received the funding) then the union would receive the financial incentives. If the employer is paying the apprentice’s salary, regardless of whether the apprentice is registered by the union, then the employer would receive the financial incentive and additional support.
Back to Newsletters
