Get a grant to hire an apprentice

Want to help kick off the career of a new apprentice? If your business has fewer than 500 employees, you may be eligible for up to $20,000 in funding this fiscal year (2023) through the Canadian Apprenticeship Service (CAS).

Running until March 2024, CAS provides grants that encourage employers hire and train first-year apprentices in any of 39 Red Seal trades. You can hire one or two apprentices per fiscal year and receive $5,000 per apprentice, or double that amount — $10,000 — if the apprentice is in one or more equity-deserving groups:

Women
Indigenous Peoples
Newcomers
Persons with Disabilities

Visible Minorities
LGBTQ2+

All the trades in construction and manufacturing that are eligible for the program are listed in the Canadian Apprenticeship Service FAQ below.

Extra support for employers

In addition to the grant money, ApprenticeSearch.com helps employers find candidates if they don’t have someone in mind. The matching service is free of charge.

The program also provides free access to a mentorship course and app for apprentices and the journeypersons who will be training them, as well as free training for your workforce on working in a respectful workplace, understanding systemic racism, and construction ethics. Complimentary essential skills training is available for apprentices as well.

How to apply

Complete these three steps to apply for the CAS grant:

1. Register at ApprenticeSearch.com/cas

You’ll need to complete a registration form and sub-agreement, as well as an electronic funds transfer document, and provide a copy of your training agreement with a jurisdictional authority.

2. Find and register your apprentice

You may already know someone perfect for the job — or you can use the matching service. Arrange for that person to register at ApprenticeSearch.com/cas as well.

3. Register at BuildForce.com

Sign up your apprentice and journeyperson for the mandatory Introduction to Mentorship program and check in to make sure they complete it.

You’re done! Once your submission is approved, you will receive your grant.

*The information provided in this blog article is solely for informational purposes and does not imply any association or endorsement between Prospera Credit Union and the Canadian Apprenticeship Service, ApprenticeSearch.com, or BuildForce.com. Readers are advised to confirm all details and qualifications of the program at ApprenticeSearch.com/cas before applying. Prospera Credit Union is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information provided in this blog article.

Canadian Apprenticeship Service FAQ

Is my business eligible?

Any Canadian business with fewer than 500 employees is eligible.

How big is the grant?

Eligible businesses can receive up to $20,000 in funding this fiscal year (2023). Each fiscal year, a business can receive $5,000 for each of up to two apprentices, or $10,000 for each of up to two apprentices when the apprentice is in an equity-deserving group.

What qualifies as an equity-deserving group?

The following groups are eligible for funding of $10,000 per apprentice per fiscal year:

Women

Indigenous Peoples
Newcomers
Persons with Disabilities
Visible Minorities
LGBTQ2+

Who qualifies as an apprentice?

Only Level 1 apprentices are eligible to receive funding through the CAS program. A Level 1 apprentice is registered as an apprentice with a jurisdictional authority in one of 39 Red Seal trades and in the first year of apprenticeship training.