A List of 3 Programs That Offers Hire a Student Grants

Many Canadian businesses enjoy the benefits that come with hiring a student, such as gaining access to new and youthful perspectives, filling temporary or short-term positions, reducing recruitment and training costs, and much more.

Many businesses have to-do lists filled with tasks that need to be done but are perhaps a low enough priority that they are continually deferred. Hiring students with the appropriate knowledge and skills lets you tackle these projects, helping you accomplish your goals in a more efficient manner. You may also find candidates with long-term potential suitable for full-time employment when they graduate.

Making the prospect of hiring a student even more attractive is the availability of grants provided by the Canadian government for this purpose. In fact, 17 different delivery organizations, each with its own benefits and requirements, are being funded by the government.

Here are three short-listed programs offering hire a student grants:

Magnet Student Workplace Program

If you are a new business looking to hire a student for any quality work integrated learning (WIL) experience, you will want to consider the Magnet Student Working Program. It provides wage subsidies.

This program pairs employers and students for WIL experiences that can help the student in finding employment in their field of study. Some of the highlights of the program include:

• 50% student wage subsidy, to a maximum of $5,000
• 70% student wage subsidy to a maximum of $7,000 for students from underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities and Indigenous students
• Pre-approvals that allow the position itself to be filled, giving more time to locate the right candidate
• Repeat applications, with students eligible for 3 applications each year so that you can retain them longer
• Flexible student work hours, with students providing a minimum of 15 hours of availability

There are specific requirements that determine student eligibility. The student must be a Canadian citizen, with permanent residents and protected refugees also eligible to apply. They must provide proof of enrolment in a post-secondary program at an accredited institution, though they need not be actively taking classes.

Students must not be related to the applicant and measures against nepotism are in place. Those working as independent contractors are not eligible for this grant.

BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program

Is your business involved with Healthcare or Bio-Tech? These or other roles deeply involved in biology are the top choices for coordinators of the BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program. It offers:

• 50% student wage subsidy, up to $5,000
• 70% student wage subsidy, up to $7,000 for students from underrepresented groups, such as women in STEM and visible minorities
• Eligibility for students in post-secondary institutions makes this grant unique
• Repeat applications allowing 3 applications per year. If the student is a good match, this means you can keep them onboard
• Flexible student working hours that allow the student to work a minimum of 15 hours per week while still attending school

Several of the requirements are the same as the Magnet program. Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected refugees. They must not be related to the applicant and need to provide proof of enrolment at an accredited institution, even if not actively taking classes. Additionally, the grant is for technical roles. Non-tech businesses may still apply so long as the student will be using technology.

ECO Canada Student Work Placement

This program is geared toward those businesses across all industries which are working with environmentally conscious technology. It seeks to stimulate innovation and growth in environmental careers. To date, they have distributed more than $90M in subsidies while helping to fill 14,000 jobs.

They offer:

• 50% student wage subsidy, to a maximum of $5,000
• 70% student wage subsidy to a maximum of $7,000 for underrepresented groups, including visible minorities, those with disabilities, and Indigenous students
• Potential funding for training and other costs
• Repeat applications, allowing you to keep a student you like for up to 3 applications per year
• Flexible student working hours that allow students to continue with classes while working a minimum of 15 hours per week

As with the other programs, students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected refugees. They must not be related to the applicant and independent contractors are not eligible. They must provide proof of enrolment in an accredited institution, though they are not required to be actively taking classes.

As you can see, the various hire a student grants offers are similar in many ways, including the amount of subsidy and requirements for eligibility, though there are differences that may make certain programs a better fit for your business.

For more information about hire a student grants, contact us today and we will be happy to assist you.