How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses, capped at $3000000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Women in Skilled Trades Initiative?

Women in Skilled Trades Initiative is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

What are Women in Skilled Trades Initiative's eligibility criterias?

Applicant organization must be located in Canada and be a union, not-for-profit, or for-profit organization, municipal, Indigenous, provincial, or territorial government. Projects must target women apprentices in at least one of the 39 eligible Red Seal trades and have contributions from sources other than Employment and Social Development Canada.

Women in Skilled Trades Initiative

grant_single|update January 24, 2025

Canada

Funds projects supporting women apprentices in Red Seal trades

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grant_single|openingDate October 12, 2022
grant_single|closingDate December 1, 2022

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Grant and Funding

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Construction
Manufacturing

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Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

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The Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy offers a maximum funding of up to $3,000,000 for projects aimed at recruiting, retaining, and supporting women apprentices in the 39 eligible Red Seal trades, primarily in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Eligible activities include organizing women-led events, creating partnerships with relevant organizations, providing mentorship by female role models, and creating welcoming and safe work environments for women.

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This grant provides a well-defined financial framework to support projects aimed at enhancing the success of women in skilled trades across Canada. The modalities ensure comprehensive support and accountability throughout the funding process.

Eligible organizations can apply for up to $3,000,000 for a project lasting up to 48 months.
Projects must include cash contributions from sources other than Employment and Social Development Canada, equal to or more than 10% of the total project cost, or demonstrate in-kind contributions in specific challenging circumstances.
ESDC reserves the right to accept a project for full or partial funding, providing flexibility in allocation based on the project's needs and impacts.
First payment issued within 14 calendar days of signing the funding agreement by both parties, with subsequent payments made within 14 days upon receiving completed claim packages for contribution projects.
Funding decisions are expected to be communicated 12 to 22 weeks after the submission period ends.

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The Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative funds projects dedicated to supporting, recruiting, and retaining women apprentices in Red Seal trades. The eligible activities promote female participation through mentorship, partnerships, and inclusive environments.

Organizing women-led events to serve as outreach tools for attracting women to the trades industry.
Creating partnerships with women’s groups, community colleges, unions, or employers to promote the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
Supporting women’s progression through a Red Seal apprenticeship in at least one of the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
Offering mentorship opportunities through female role models and facilitating women-in-the-skilled-trades networks.
Creating a welcoming workplace where women can feel comfortable and safe on work sites.
Providing wrap-around supports, such as guidance, tutoring, childcare support, and flexible childcare arrangements.

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Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the type of organization and project characteristics.

Your organization must be located in Canada and be one of the following types:
A union representing workers in Red Seal trades or an organization managing training funds for Red Seal trades workers, such as a joint training fund set up by a union or a union and an employer association.
A not-for-profit organization.
A for-profit organization, provided that the nature and intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives.
A municipal government.
An Indigenous organization, including band councils, tribal councils, or Self-government entities.
A provincial or territorial government, including agencies, institutions, or Crown corporations.
Projects must target women apprentices in at least one of the 39 eligible Red Seal trades sanctioned under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program in the relevant provinces or territories.
Projects must have contributions from sources other than Employment and Social Development Canada, with cash contributions equal to or more than 10% of the total project cost including the amount contributed by ESDC, or in-kind contributions if specific challenges like remote location or limited access to infrastructure are present.

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To apply for the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, your organization must be located in Canada and must fall under one of the following types:1. Union representing workers in Red Seal trades or an organization managing training funds for Red Seal trades workers. This can include: - A joint training fund set up by a union. - A union and an employer association.2. Not-for-profit organization.3. For-profit organization, on the condition that the project's activities are non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and support program priorities and objectives.4. Municipal government.5. Indigenous organization, which can include: - Band council. - Tribal council. - Self-government entity.6. Provincial and territorial government, which includes: - Agency. - Institution. - Crown corporation.Note to organizations located and operating in Quebec: Quebec-based applicants are subject to the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (R.S.Q. c. M-30). They are eligible to submit a proposal, but must obtain approval from the Government of Quebec if the project is accepted by ESDC before funding is provided.

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Based on the information provided, there are no explicit details regarding specific types of companies or industries that are restricted from applying for this grant. However, the eligibility criteria focus on the positive inclusion of certain organizational types and project objectives.

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The grant covers specific expenses aimed at supporting projects that recruit, retain, and help women apprentices succeed in eligible Red Seal trades.

Personnel costs for individuals directly involved in the delivery of project activities.
Costs associated with organizing women-led events and outreach activities.
Expenses related to partnerships with relevant organizations to promote Red Seal trades.
Mentorship program costs, including stipends for female role models.
Logistics for creating safe and comfortable training and workspace environments for women.
Costs for wrap-around supports, like childcare and tutoring, to assist women apprentices.
Travel and accommodation expenses directly related to project execution.
Materials and supplies necessary for the execution of project activities.

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The Women in Skilled Trades Initiative is available to organizations located across Canada, targeting women in various provinces or territories in designated Red Seal trades. Priority may be given based on geographical coverage to ensure nationwide representation.

Organizations across all Canadian provinces and territories.
Areas where the 39 eligible Red Seal trades are designated under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program.

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The evaluation and selection of projects for the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative are based on specific criteria that assess alignment with the initiative's goals and practical feasibility.

Project objectives: Describe how your project aims to recruit, retain and help exclusively women apprentices succeed in at least 1 of the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
Project activities, timelines, and feasibility: Provide clear and relevant descriptions of your project activities, ensure they align with the project objectives, and offer specific, detailed, and realistic timelines and milestones.
Project impact and results: Describe how this funding will contribute to improving the recruitment, retention, and success of women apprentices in the 39 eligible Red Seal trades, as well as how the organization plans to collect, measure, and report on the project’s results.
Project cost: Provide a brief and clear justification of how you intend to use the money and demonstrate that the costs are reasonable, detailed, and support the project activities.
Additional funding priorities: Preference may be given to projects supporting women across various regions in Canada, contributing to supporting approximately 10,900 women between 2023 to 2024 and 2026 to 2027, and submitted by organizations with 5 or more years of experience in delivering projects that support women pre-apprentices or apprentices in the skilled trades.

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Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

You can only submit one application per eligible organization under this funding process.
The initiative may prioritize projects based on factors like geographic coverage and official languages.
If applying from Quebec, provincial approval is required post-acceptance due to the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif.
Projects must demonstrate additional cash contributions of at least 10% from sources other than ESDC or justify in-kind contributions.
Successful projects are expected to commence in summer 2023.