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BC Funding ̽

Employers hiring students for WIL can receive grants to subsidize wages through the Innovate BC’s Tech Grants program, and the Innovator Skills Initiative Grant program. The BC Arts Council’s Co-op Placement Program is also available for arts and cultural organizations in BC.

Delivery Partners

BC Tech Grants

The BC Tech Co-op Grants Program provides up to $5,000, almost a 50% 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. Each employer is eligible to receive a maximum of four grants each per program year (May 1 to April 30) valued at $5,000 (a total value of $20,000), to recruit and train between one to four distinct co-op students.

Eligibility

  • Be a B.C.-based business.
  • Have less than 500 employees on payroll.
  • Be a tech company or tech non-profit hiring for any role.
  • Be a non-tech company, organization or non-profit hiring for a tech role (A tech role is defined as a role primarily related to developing tech or providing tech support).
  • Be hiring a student for a co-op work term. If you’ve hired a student for a co-op work term in the last 5 years, then you must hire a first-time co-op student.

Innovator Skills Initiative Grant Program

The Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) offers up to $10,000 a year to hire a student to fill a business or tech role. The program connects undergrad and graduate students with an opportunity to bring their skills to atechnology companylooking for help or to a non-tech company looking to expand theirinnovationfootprint. This program is delivered by our partner.

Up to $10000 towards your student’s payroll, per term (amount is based on your student’s total salary). Up to two vouchers per year (running May – April), worth a total of $10,000.

You are:

  • A tech companyor tech non-profit hiring for abusiness or tech role, or
  • A non-tech business or non-profit hiring for a tech role.
  • Hiring a post-secondary student from an accredited institution in BC.

Your student:

  • Is nota co-op student.
  • Will be hired for a business or technical role.
  • Is enrolled at an accredited post secondary institution in BC.

You agree to:

  • Offer entrepreneurial and business training to the student.
  • Match grant funding in cash or a combination of cash and up to 25% in kind.
  • Complete required surveys and comply with the terms of the funding.