Apprenticeship Support Project

Working to Seal a Better Future!

The Apprenticeship Support Project, funded by Apprenticeship Service Program, assisted Small and Medium Employers (SMEs) to hire first-year apprentices in one of the 39 Federal Red Seal Trades. An incentive of $5000 was available for an employer to hire a first-year apprentice. An additional $5000 for hiring an individual from an equity-deserving group.

In partnership with IBEW, PITC and AES, the project realized much success. The project funded 436 SMEs nation wide. It added 1,342 apprentices to various trades. The ASP team continued to promote the project, attending numerous events such as the Winnipeg Career Fair, Vision Quest Trade Show, Skills Canada Manitoba Competition, SWIT – Supporting Women in Trades Conference, Global Apprenticeship Summit, Career Fair 2024: RRC Polytech to name a few.

APPLY

The Apprenticeship Support Project has ended. Thank you to all the businesses who have taken part to receive the funding to support their first year apprentices.

Eligibility

Who can access the FPDI Apprenticeship Support initiative?

All small and medium-sized employers with 499 or less paid employees.

SMEs can hire up to two, first-year Red Seal apprentices per fiscal year for a potential incentive of $20,000.

 

FPDI Support

Financial Support to SMEs

  • $5,000 to help pay for upfront costs such as salaries and training of first-year apprentice
  • Additional $5,000 for SMEs for hiring from an equity-deserving group

Additional Supports

  • To help employers participate in the the apprenticeship system, supports could include help to navigate the apprenticeship system, on-board apprentices and creating welcoming workplaces.

What are the Red Seal Trades?

  • Boilermaker
  • Bricklayer
  • Cabinetmaker
  • Carpenter
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Construction Craft Worker
  • Construction Electrician
  • Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
  • Floor-covering Installer
  • Gasfitter – Class A &B
  • Glazier
  • Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer, Excavator, Tractor-Loader-Backhoe)
  • Industrial Electrician
  • and more!

For the full list of Red Seal trades in Canada visit: Government of Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

(e.g., they were a general labourer in the company before registering as a first-year apprentice)

Yes – as long as the employee became a first-year Red Seal apprentice after the start of the project, it is acceptable that the apprentice was already employed with the same employer.

Yes – as long as the employee became a first-year Red Seal apprentice after the start of the project, it is acceptable that the apprentice was previously an apprentice in a different trade.

Yes – as long as the employee was not currently employed by another employer at the time the SME employer hired them, and they still qualify 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.

Yes – it is acceptable to hire an apprentice if the employee is registered with a union as a first year apprentice, whether or not the union is the official employer and paying the apprentice’s salary.

If the employer is the union (paying the apprentice’s salary), and provided that the union meets all the requirements to qualify as a small and medium-sized employer under the Apprenticeship Service program (i.e., must have 499 paid employees or less at the time that it receives the funding) then the union would receive the financial incentive. 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 supports.

Financial supports will be paid as follows:

  • Payment of $5,000 made after the employer signs a Sub-Agreement with FPDI and a new first-year apprentice is hired and
  • Upon receiving a copy of the registered apprenticeship training agreement between the apprentice and the employer that has been registered with the Provincial or Territorial apprenticeship authority.
  • Additional payment of $5,000 made to the employer only if the first-year apprentice voluntarily attests to being from at least one of the equity-deserving groups – women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ2+ communities, newcomers, and visible minorities.
  • The employer can receive a maximum of $10,000 per apprentice (2 apprentices per fiscal year)

A copy of the registered apprenticeship training agreement between the apprentice and the employer will be required by FPDI.

The list of groups where the additional $5,000 applies includes:

  • women,
  • persons with disabilities,
  • Indigenous people,
  • Members of the LGBTQ2+ communities,
  • newcomers, and
  • visible minorities.