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Apprenticeship START
Last Update: March 6, 2026
Nova Scotia, Canada
Supports Nova Scotia employers hiring and training apprentices
Grant and Funding
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Overview
The Apprenticeship START program provides up to $25,000 in funding to support Nova Scotia employers in registering and employing new or unemployed apprentices. This government initiative helps businesses facilitate practical training and progress apprentices toward certification.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve employee retention
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 500 employees maximum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Activities funded
- Employing and registering new or unemployed apprentices in Nova Scotia within a structured apprenticeship program.
- Providing on-the-job training and relevant work experience to help apprentices progress toward certification.
- Supporting under-represented groups (in urban areas) by offering apprenticeship opportunities tailored to equity-deserving candidates.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 21,000
Registering a new plumbing apprentice and upgrading training tools
$ 21,000
Onboarding a female automotive service technician apprentice and equipment
$ 12,000
Welder apprenticeship for a newcomer and implementation of digital logbooks
$ 20,900
Supporting an underrepresented electrical apprentice with paid work placement
$ 17,400
Employing an apprentice carpenter from a visible minority group
$ 14,400
Hiring a new apprentice chef and purchasing culinary training resources
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a small or medium-sized employer in Nova Scotia with fewer than 500 employees.
- The business, not-for-profit organization, or social enterprise must employ 15 apprentices or less.
- Employers in urban areas with populations over 20,000 (Halifax Regional Municipality, Truro, Sydney) are eligible only if registering equity-deserving apprentices from under-represented groups.
- The employer must provide suitable work experience, accurately record practical hours, and ensure a safe working environment for apprentices.
Who is eligible?
- Small or medium-sized businesses in Nova Scotia
- Not-for-profit organizations in Nova Scotia
- Social enterprises in Nova Scotia
Who is not eligible
- Employers operating in urban areas with populations over 20,000 (Halifax Regional Municipality, Truro, and Sydney) are not eligible unless they are registering equity-deserving apprentices from under-represented groups.
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
- Urban areas exceeding 20,000 in population: Halifax Regional Municipality, Truro, and Sydney (with limitations on apprentice eligibility)
How to apply
1
Confirm apprentice and business eligibility
- Identify an eligible apprentice who is either new or unemployed and residing in Nova Scotia
- Ensure your business is eligible according to program criteria
2
Complete Apprenticeship Agreement
- Prepare and complete an Apprenticeship Agreement
- Collaborate with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency and your apprentice
3
Receive automatic funding
- No formal application is required
- Funding is automatically dispersed if criteria are met
Additional information
- Employers do not need to submit a separate application; eligible funding is automatically disbursed.
- Employers in Nova Scotia may access blended funding from both the Apprenticeship START program and the Canadian Apprenticeship Services (CAS) incentive.
Contacts
apprenticeshipstart@novascotia.ca
1-800-494-5651
