Graduate Mentorship Program — For Employers

The Graduate Mentorship Program provides employers with financial assistance to support the hiring and training of recent post-secondary graduates. This initiative aims to ease the transition into full-time employment for graduates while fostering productive employment relationships.

• The program subsidizes up to 50% of the wages for a maximum of 52 weeks.
• The wage subsidy is capped at $10.00 per hour during the training period.
• The employer is responsible for covering CPP, EI, and ensuring Workers' Compensation coverage for the participant.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements for employers looking to participate in the Graduate Mentorship Program.

• Registered private sector businesses.
• Organizations.
• Municipalities.
• Band/tribal councils.
• Public health and educational institutions.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for this grant. These include:

• Financial institutions
• Gambling establishments
• Illegal businesses

Eligible expenses

The Graduate Mentorship Program supports employment opportunities specifically designed to assist unemployed recent graduates in gaining industry-relevant experience. Activities eligible for this grant must focus on providing mentorship and developing practical skills for new graduates.

• Creation and execution of a detailed mentorship plan for a new graduate, including ongoing feedback and training opportunities.
• Development and detailing of a comprehensive job description that aligns with the graduate's field of study and includes timelines for training activities.
• Formulation of a sustainability plan to retain the graduate after the subsidy period ends.

Eligible geographic areas

This program is funded through the Canada-PEI labour market agreements, indicating its regional focus is on Prince Edward Island. Eligible businesses should therefore be located within Prince Edward Island to align with the program's objectives.

• Businesses operating within Prince Edward Island, Canada.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.

• Relevance of the project to the grant objectives
• Feasibility and potential impact of the project
• Budget justification and financial need
• Past performance and experience of the applicant
• Clear and well-defined project plan

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The wage subsidy provided by SkillsPEI covers up to 50% of the wages, with a maximum limit of $10.00 per hour during the training period.
• The Employer is responsible for covering mandatory employment-related costs, including CPP, EI, and ensuring proper Worker’s Compensation coverage for the participant.
• Once confirmed approval for the Graduate Mentorship Program is received, employment can commence; employment should not begin prior to approval to qualify for the subsidy.
• There is no specific deadline for applications as they are accepted on an ongoing basis.
• The wage rate paid to the participant must be suitable for the targeted occupation and will be assessed with reference to relevant sources such as the National Occupation Profiles and Job Bank for PEI wages.