Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program

Who is eligible?

• Canadian-owned companies.
• Canadian subsidiaries.
• Not-for-profit organizations.
• Mining and mineral exploration employers.

Who is not eligible

• Post-secondary education institutions.
• International students.
• Apprenticeships.

Eligible expenses

• Wage subsidies for paid work-integrated learning placements.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Apprenticeships.
• Other federal funding programs combined with this wage subsidy.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada.
• Placements outside British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec are prioritized.

• Priority for new employers not previously involved in Gearing Up.
• Priority for small and medium-sized employers.
• Priority for placements outside British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
• Limit of 10 net new Gearing Up placements per work site during 2025-2026.

• Step 1: Review resources
  • Read the applicant guide and confirm eligibility.
  • Understand the net new placement calculation.
• Step 2: Submit Phase I application
  • Apply through MiHR’s online application form.
  • Provide organizational contact details, job title, work terms, and net new placement information.
• Step 3: Preliminary review
  • MiHR reviews the application and net new calculation.
  • If accepted, the employer receives next-step instructions.
• Step 4: Complete Phase II
  • Submit the signed employer agreement and participant information form through the online employer portal.
  • Complete any required training and follow-up program steps.

• Applications are reviewed in two phases by MiHR.
• Approved applicants must submit signed agreements and participant information forms before funding is confirmed.
• MiHR may place applications on a waitlist if funding allocation is exceeded.
• Placements are monitored during the work experience, and a post-placement survey is completed afterward.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Gearing Up encourages participation by underrepresented groups such as women in STEM, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, first-year students, and members of visible minority groups.
• A Steering Committee provides guidance and subject matter expertise into project activities, outputs, and desired outcomes, comprising members from various universities and organizations involved in the mining sector.
• Applications can be submitted online via the dedicated application form on the Gearing Up website.
• Employers can access wage subsidies of up to $5,000 for offering work experience opportunities.
• Gearing Up aims to create over 2,000 new work-integrated learning opportunities.