Achievement Incentive and Group Sponsorship Grant
At a glance
- Max. $17,000
- Open Date : October 09, 2023
- All industries
- Government of Ontario
- Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
- Immigration
Overview
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility criteria for the Achievement Incentive grant are as follows:
- Employers must be notified by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development when their apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification.
- Employers will receive a web-link to apply electronically through a secure, one-time online application.
Who is eligible
Eligible types of companies for the grant include:
- Employers who train apprentices in Ontario
- Employers who sponsor apprentices and provide hands-on training for a trade
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for this grant. The Achievement Incentive grant program helps employers train apprentices and supports apprentice progression by providing grant payments at various milestones:
- Registration: $1,000 registration payment for each newly registered apprentice under the age of 25 and/or from an under-represented group
- In-class training progression: $1,000 milestone payment for each level of in-class training completed, up to four levels of schooling
- Completion: $1,000 milestone payment when the apprentice achieves the highest certification in their trade
Evaluation & selection criteria
The Achievement Incentive grant program offers financial support to employers training apprentices by providing grant payments when apprentices reach major training and certification milestones.
- Registration payment for newly registered apprentices under the age of 25 or part of an under-represented group
- Milestone payments for each level of in-class training completed, up to four levels
- Additional milestone payments for apprentices under the age of 25 or from under-represented groups
- Milestone payment upon achieving the highest certification in the trade
- Additional milestone payments for qualifying apprentices
How to apply
- Step 1: Assess your training ability
- An employer, individual or a group of employers can sponsor an apprentice and provide hands-on training for a trade.
- Ensure you have the facilities, people, and equipment needed for training.
- Meet any Ontario regulations applying to your trade.
- Step 2: Find an apprentice
- An apprentice candidate must be at least 16 years old and meet the minimum education requirements for the trade.
- Ways to find an apprentice include online job listings, Employment Ontario, high school student apprentices, and apprentices registered in another province or territory.
- Step 3: Register the apprentice
- Complete an online apprenticeship training application through the Skilled Trades Ontario Portal.
- If the apprentice candidate is under 18, a paper application form must be filled out and signed by the sponsor and the apprentice’s parent or guardian.
- Step 4: Sign a training agreement
- Once approved by the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development, sign a training agreement confirming the terms of the apprenticeship.
- Agreement includes applying for financial incentives, ensuring formal schooling is completed, assigning work in compulsory aspects of the trade, and confirming completion of workplace training.
- Step 5: Train the apprentice
- Be responsible for training the apprentice on the skills outlined in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book.
- Regularly review and sign off on the apprentice’s acquired skills.
- Step 6: Finalize training and complete paperwork
- When the apprentice completes on-the-job and classroom training, they will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship.
- Complete tasks to confirm apprentice training completion with the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development.
Achievement Incentive Grant Summary
The Achievement Incentive Grant is a program in Ontario that helps employers train apprentices by reducing training costs and supporting apprentice progression with grant payments when apprentices reach major milestones.
Understanding the Achievement Incentive Grant in Ontario
The Achievement Incentive Grant is a valuable program in Ontario designed to assist employers in training apprentices and fostering their progression in the skilled trades industry. This grant provides financial support to eligible employers as their apprentices achieve significant training and certification milestones. By offering up to $17,000 in funding, the program aims to incentivize more employers to take on apprentices and contribute to building Ontario's apprenticeship pipeline.
Eligible employers can benefit from the Achievement Incentive Grant by receiving financial incentives at key stages of their apprentices' training journey:
Registration
- A $1,000 registration payment for each newly registered apprentice under 25 years old or who self-identifies as part of an under-represented group, with a maximum of $2,000 if applicable.
In-class Training Progression
- A $1,000 milestone payment for each level of in-class training completed, up to four levels of schooling.
- An additional $1,000 milestone payment for each apprentice under 25 or who self-identifies as part of an under-represented group, with a maximum of $12,000 where applicable.
Completion
- A $1,000 milestone payment when the apprentice achieves the highest certification in their trade, such as a Certificate of Apprenticeship or a Certificate of Qualification.
- An additional $1,000 for each apprentice under 25 or who self-identifies as part of an under-represented group, with a maximum of $3,000.
Employers and group sponsors will be notified by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development when their apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification. Upon notification, they can apply electronically through a secure online application to receive the grant payments.
Federal Employer Supports
In addition to the provincial funding provided by the Achievement Incentive Grant, employers may also be eligible for financial assistance from the federal government:
- Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit: This credit is equal to 10% of the apprentice salary, payable to eligible employers with a maximum of $2,000 per year per apprentice for the first two years of apprenticeship in Red Seal trades.
- Federal Wage Subsidies and Assistance Programs: Various federal programs exist to help businesses hire the right employees and offer support for on-the-job training costs.
By leveraging both provincial and federal support, employers can access additional resources to facilitate apprentice training and skill development while reducing financial barriers associated with taking on apprentices.
