Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program
Canada
Money for electricity firms to hire students
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateFebruary 19, 2018
- grant_single|closingDateMarch 21, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Wage Subsidies And Interns
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Utilities
grant_single|grantors
- Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
Get a wage subsidy of up to $5,000 per student when you provide work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for post-secondary students, including remote work placements in the field of electricity and up to a maximum of $7,000 per placement for underrep
grant_single_labels|projects
Projects and activities eligible for this grant include work-integrated learning placements connected to students' fields of study. These placements must be new opportunities and should generally last at least 12 weeks.
- Co-ops
- Internships
- Applied projects
- Capstone projects
- Case competitions
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$5,000
Montreal
Co-op placement for an environmental science student at a non-profit organization
$5,000
Halifax
Internship for a marketing student at a financial cooperative
$5,000
Ottawa
Capstone project for an information systems student at a social economy enterprise
$7,000
Toronto
Hire an electrical engineering student for a 4-month internship
$7,000
Vancouver
Internship for a software development student at a tech startup
$7,000
Waterloo
Co-op for a mechanical engineering student at a manufacturing company
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The Empowering Futures Program offers financial incentives to employers creating new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students in the electricity industry. Both employers and participants must meet specific criteria to be eligible for funding.
- Canadian-owned company
- Firms engaged in generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity
- Sector support firms in R & D, business development, energy efficiency
- Firms manufacturing equipment or providing services for electricity generation, transmission, or distribution
- Participants must be full-time or part-time students in a post-secondary institution
- Participants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons with refugee protection in Canada
- Participants must be legally able to work in Canada
- Employment must not be funded by another federally funded program
- Employment must provide work opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business programs
- Employers must have a sufficient nepotism policy
- Placements should generally be at least 12 weeks long (exceptions can be discussed)
- Retroactive applications are not accepted
- Must meet the "Net New Rule"
- Subsidy reimbursement is up to 50% of gross paystubs, or up to 70% for specific groups (e.g., first-year students, women in STEM)
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Certain types of companies are eligible for the Empowering Futures grant provided by Electricity Human Resources Canada. These companies must be Canadian-owned and involved in the electricity sector in specific capacities.
- Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
- Sector support, including renewables, in areas such as R&D, business development, energy efficiency.
- Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or the provision of services necessary for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Post-Secondary institutions are specifically mentioned as not eligible to receive funding under the Empowering Futures Program.
- Post-Secondary institutions
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The eligible expenses for this grant are limited to the wages of the student participants. No other expenses are mentioned for this grant.
- Wages for students' work placement
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zones for this grant are within Canada. Only Canadian-owned companies involved in the electricity sector are eligible.
- Canadian-owned companies
- Firms engaged in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity
- Companies involved in renewable energy
- Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or provision of services necessary for electricity generation
- Businesses specializing in R & D, business development, and energy efficiency
grant_single_labels|criteria
The Empowering Futures Program has specific eligibility requirements for organizations, participants, and the nature of employment opportunities, serving as evaluation and selection criteria to determine grant funding suitability. These criteria ensure that applicants align with the program's objectives to provide meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities for students in the Canadian electricity sector.
- Must be a Canadian-owned company.
- Primary activities must include generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity or sector support in areas like renewables, R&D, business development, and energy efficiency.
- Eligible participants must be full-time or part-time post-secondary students who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons with refugee protection in Canada, legally able to work in Canada.
- Employment positions must provide a full or part-time work opportunity for students enrolled in STEM, arts, or business programs and must not be funded by another federal program.
- Employers must not recruit friends or family members without nepotism policies in place and provide meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities for at least 12 weeks (exceptions possible).
- Retroactive applications for funding are not accepted.
- Employers must adhere to the "net new" rule, demonstrating that EHRC funding increased the number of students hired compared to the previous fiscal year.
- Placements should not exceed one year, and the same student cannot be funded for the same type of employment with the same employer more than once.
- Employers must develop a Formal Learning Plan with the participant and provide monthly financial claims and progress reports.
- Reimbursement: Standard is 50% of gross pay, up to $5,000; increased reimbursement is 70%, up to $7,000 for first-year students, women in STEM, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Employer Submits Application
- Employer prepares and submits the application through the designated process.
- Step 2: Participant Sends Eligibility Form
- Participant completes and submits an eligibility form to verify their status.
- Step 3: Processing
- EHRC processes the application and eligibility form, which can take up to 10 business days.
- Step 4: Contract Signing
- For successful placements, a contract is signed by the Employer, Participant, and EHRC.
- Step 5: Learning Plan Creation
- The Employer and Participant create a formal Learning Plan before the start of the placement.
- Step 6: Monthly Claims Submission
- Employer submits monthly claims for reimbursement to EHRC.
- Step 7: Evaluation Surveys Completion
- Both the Employer and Participant complete their respective evaluation surveys.
- Step 8: Funded Placement Ends
- The reimbursement funding concludes upon the end of the placement.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The Empowering Futures Program is part of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), which aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical work experience in the electricity industry.
- The program provides wage subsidies of up to $7,000 for employers creating new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students.
- Eligibility is determined based on the employer organization, the participant, and the nature of employment.
- Specific groups, such as first-year students, women in STEM, newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples, are eligible for increased subsidy reimbursements of 70% of the student’s gross pay, up to a maximum of $7,000 per placement.
- Employers must provide proof of placement employment, start date, contract with the participant, full wage, and benefits.
- Monthly financial claims and progress reports are required for each student.
- Employers must develop a Formal Learning Plan with the participant before the start of the placement.
- Retroactive applications are not accepted, and placements must be meaningful and generally at least 12 weeks long.
- The program aims to create new WIL opportunities in electricity, helping young Canadians transition from school to work through collaborative partnerships between Canadian employers and post-secondary institutions.
grant_single_labels|contact
turnin@ehrc.ca
613.235.5540
Apply to this program
Empowering Futures Grant Overview
The Empowering Futures Program provides up to $7,000 in wage subsidies to Canadian employers in the electricity industry who create new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students. Funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), this initiative helps bridge the gap between academic studies and professional careers.
Comprehensive Guide to the Empowering Futures Grant
The Empowering Futures Program, managed by Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), is an innovative funding initiative designed to benefit both employers and students in Canada’s electricity sector. This program establishes a crucial link between post-secondary education and professional employment by subsidizing the creation of meaningful Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities. By aligning workforce requirements with academic curricula, the program not only equips students with practical skills but also helps employers in the industry build a skilled talent pipeline. This guide will explain the program's details, eligibility requirements, benefits, and application process.
Program Objectives
The primary objective of the Empowering Futures Program is to facilitate the transition from academic settings to the professional world for students in the electricity sector. The program aims to:
- Create new WIL opportunities by providing wage subsidies to employers.
- Strengthen research, development, and innovation partnerships between industry and academia.
- Ensure that curricula delivered in post-secondary institutions align with the sector's needs.
- Establish a sustainable and competitive workforce for the future.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the Empowering Futures Program, both employer organizations and students must meet specific eligibility criteria.
Employer Organization Eligibility
Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Canadian-owned companies.
- Firms whose primary activities include the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, or sector support in any areas like R&D, business development, or energy efficiency.
- Manufacturers of equipment or service providers essential for electricity generation, transmission, or distribution.
- Note: Post-secondary institutions themselves are not eligible to receive funding.
Participant Eligibility
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Registered as a full-time or part-time student in a post-secondary institution.
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with refugee protection in Canada.
- Legally eligible to work in Canada according to provincial or territorial regulations.
Employment Eligibility
The employment opportunity itself must meet specific criteria:
- The position's wages should not be funded by another federally funded program.
- Offer a full-time or part-time WIL opportunity in line with the student's science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business studies.
- Firms must not recruit friends or family members unless a sufficient nepotism policy is in place.
- Placements should generally be at least 12 weeks long, exceptions can be discussed.
- Retroactive applications are not accepted.
Net New Rule
As of April 1, 2022, employers must meet the "net new" criteria:
- EHRC requires tracking the number of students an employer hired before receiving Empowering Futures funding.
- Approval is granted for positions deemed greater in number than in the previous fiscal year (April to March).
- The same student is not eligible for multiple rounds of funding for the same type of employment with the same employer.
- Placements should not exceed one year.
Increased Subsidy Reimbursement
Standard subsidy reimbursement is 50% of the student's gross pay up to a maximum of $5,000 per placement. Increased subsidy reimbursement is 70% of the student's gross pay up to a maximum of $7,000 per placement. The increased subsidy is available for:
- First-year students
- Women in STEM
- Newcomers to Canada
- Persons with Disabilities
- Indigenous Peoples
Additional Considerations
Employers must provide:
- Proof of co-op placement employment, including the start date, contract with the participant, full wage and benefits information.
- Information about the placement as required by EHRC.
- A Formal Learning Plan developed with the participant before the start of the placement.
- Monthly financial claims and progress reports for each student.
Funding for Futures Placement Management Process
The application and placement process follows these steps:
- Employer submits an application.
- Participant sends an eligibility form.
- Processing time is up to 10 business days.
- A contract for successful placements signed by the Employer, Participant, and EHRC.
- Employer and Participant create a Learning Plan.
- Employer submits monthly claims for reimbursement.
- Both Employer and Participant complete evaluation surveys.
- Funded placement ends.
Contact Information
For more questions about the Empowering Futures Program:
Yoana Turnin
Program Manager, Careers and Education
Phone: 613.235.5540 ext. 243
Email: turnin@ehrc.ca
Professional Skills Training Program
Besides technical and specialized knowledge, professional skills such as active listening, social perceptiveness, and collaboration are crucial for career success in the electricity sector. The Empowering Futures Program offers a Professional Skills Training course free of charge to all participants. This extra layer of training ensures students are well-rounded and ready for the professional world.
Testimonials
Student Testimonials
Many students like Zoee, an Electrical Engineering student, have availed themselves of the Empowering Futures Program to connect their academic learning with real-world careers. Click below to hear more student testimonials.
Organization Testimonials
Companies like Spark Power have shared their success stories with the Empowering Futures Program. Eric, the CIO at Spark Power, appreciates how the program helps in building a skilled workforce. Click below to hear more testimonials from organizations.
Participating Organizations and Educators
The Empowering Futures Program has a broad network of participating employers and educators, including:
Employers
ARC Engineering Inc, AECOM, ATCO, Ameresco, Aeso, Blue-O, Borealis Wind, Borrum Energy Solutions, Clir, Corvus Energy, and many more.
Educators
Algonquin College, Brock University, Cambrian College, Carleton University, CEGEP DE SAINT-HYACINTHE, Centennial College, CNA, Conestoga, Dalhousie University, Georgian College, Humber College, and many more.
Funding Acknowledgement
Empowering Futures is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). The SWPP initiative provides post-secondary students across Canada with paid work experience related to their field of study.
In conclusion, the Empowering Futures Program is an invaluable initiative aimed at preparing Canada’s electricity sector for a dynamic future. By bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application, this program not only supports students but also strengthens the industry as a whole.
