Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program

The Empowering Futures Program provides substantial wage subsidies to employers facilitating work-integrated learning experiences for students. These funding modalities are designed to reduce financial barriers and encourage participation in the program.

• Subsidy reimbursement covers 50% of the student’s gross wages, up to a maximum of $5,000 per placement.
• A higher subsidy rate of 70% is available, up to $7,000 per placement, for specific groups such as first-year students, women in STEM, newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples.

Employer Organizations are eligible for the Empowering Futures grant if they meet the following criteria:

• The organization must be a Canadian-owned company.
• The primary activity of the company should be the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
• The company can be involved in sector support activities such as research and development, business development, or energy efficiency, including renewables.
• Companies engaged in manufacturing equipment or providing services necessary for generation, transmission, or distribution are also eligible.
• Post-secondary institutions are not eligible to receive funding.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant program is targeted at specific sectors within the electricity industry, thereby excluding certain companies and industries not aligned with its objectives.

• Non-Canadian-owned companies.
• Firms not engaged in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.
• Organizations not involved in renewables, R&D, business development, or energy efficiency within the electricity sector.
• Companies not involved in manufacturing equipment or providing services necessary for the electricity industry.
• Post-secondary institutions.

Eligible expenses

The Empowering Futures grant supports projects and activities that create new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students in Canada’s electricity industry. These projects are designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, helping students gain relevant experience while contributing to the workforce.

• Creation of co-op positions for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business programs.
• Development of internships that align with the students' academic studies and career aspirations.
• Establishment of apprenticeships that provide hands-on experience and skill-building opportunities in the electricity sector.
• Facilitation of applied projects or capstone projects that enhance students’ practical knowledge and industry readiness.
• Conducting case competitions that encourage innovative problem-solving and industry engagement among students.

Eligible geographic areas

The Empowering Futures Program applies to eligible employers throughout Canada, aligned with the national scope of the Student Work Placement Program.

• All provinces and territories in Canada.

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.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Employers must provide proof of co-op placement employment and related documentation upon request.
• A Formal Learning Plan must be developed with the participant before the start of the placement.
• Monthly financial claims and progress reports for each student are required.
• Placements should be at least 12 weeks long, although exceptions can be discussed.
• The program offers professional skills training courses to participants free of charge, enhancing their skill sets beyond technical knowledge.
• Employers and participants must complete evaluation surveys at the end of the funded placement.