Did you know that funding to hire post-secondary students is closer than you think?
If you’re in the middle of business planning for 2025 and wondering how on earth you’re going to get everything done with the small team you’ve got, consider adding a student to your strategy!
Employers in Alberta can get up to $7000 to help hire student talent, and TalentED YYC is here to help you find out where to get it.
There are more than 20 funders who offer subsidies to Alberta-based employers to hire a student, and this post will guide you through the process.
Skip the Tutorial! Provide your email and we’ll connect to learn more about your needs and offer tailored advice just for you. Thanks to our funders, our services are free! Or, keep reading to learn more about how to find funding on your own!
Step 1: Build students into your 2025 business plan
First, budget.
Determine how much of your budget could go towards a student hire. Almost all funding providers offer reimbursement rather than upfront funding, so this will be important in your application.
How much? Most funders operate on a 50% reimbursement model, so $5,000 in your 2025 budget should help you secure an intern for a 4-month placement.
No budget whatsoever? Canada Summer Jobs funding may offer a reimbursement of up to 100% of minimum wages for students working in non-profits and there are situations where students are still interested in unpaid work experience, so don’t let a tiny budget stop you from exploring your options.
Next, think about timing.
Most post-secondary institutions operate on semester cycles of Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), and Spring / Summer (May – August). If you can align your student position with one of those time periods, you’ll be more likely to secure the best student with the skills you need to help your organization grow.
Applications for funding can be open year round, but are often tied to these semesters as well, so it’s important to consider when you’ll need to apply and when you want your student to start.
Need ideas on how to incorporate students into your business plan? Contact our team today and we’ll help you determine how a student could support you in 2025.
Step 2: Consider what you want a student to do
There are many ways that students can help your business grow. Perhaps you need some general support or a specialized skill set to complete a project. Or instead, maybe you could use some market research that you just can’t seem to finish on your own time.
Not sure what type of role you should create for a student? Take our Quiz to find out which placement would be best for you or explore the various work integrated learning options here If you’re interested in which students are currently available or where to find specific skill sets, be sure to check out our Work Integrated Learning Catalogue.
Whether it’s hiring a co-op student for 8 months or a summer internship, funding is closely tied to the type of work the student will be doing, so consider this carefully.
Here are a few examples of how funding can be tied to the work a student is doing:
- Information and Communications Technology Council funding is open to any type of employer, but the student role needs to be related to technology.
- Mitacs funding is open to any type of employer but is only for when students are completing applied research or innovation projects.
- Some funders require students to be formally registered in an official work integrated learning experience that is recognized by their academic institution (such as a co-op, field placement, or internship).
Once you’ve outlined what your student will be doing, many funders will require a high-level job description. Check out our job description templates to help you define your student’s role and responsibilities.
Want to skip the research? Contact our team today and we’ll help you decide how to structure a student work experience in a way that works best for your business.
Step 3: Explore funding options
Now that you’ve determined how and when you plan to bring a student into your business, it’s time to figure out which funding to apply for!
Take the Quiz! Interested in finding out which type of funding is most likely to meet your needs? Take our interactive Funding Quiz to help you explore the most relevant funding for your organization.
There are two main types of funding for employers working with students:
Federal Funding Sources:
- Student Work Placement Program – Up to $7000: This funding offsets the costs associated with hiring and training students in meaningful work experiences by providing reimbursements of up to $7000. This Government of Canada funding is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through 17 Funding Delivery Partners. This funding is available for companies in specific skills or sectors:
- Mitacs – Up to $7500: Mitacs funds interns to undertake Applied Research projects (Accelerate program) OR Innovation projects (Business Strategy Internship program) under the supervision of an Academic Supervisor with a Sponsor Organization (the industry partner).
- Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) – Varies: Offers funding for non-profit, public sector, and small businesses (under 50 employees). CSJ is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.
Provincial Funding Sources:
- Alberta WIL Vouchers Up to $5000: This funder helps students get the job-ready skills they need while providing Alberta-based employers with access to local talent. It will provide employers with a grant of up to $5,000 per student placement, which is matched by the employer. Additionally, there is grant stacking with any of the federal funders (listed above).
These four types of funding are sometimes administered by specific industry partners. Check out our list of all funding delivery partners here. While there may be other niche or short-term funding options available, TalentED YYC focuses on stable, non-specific, and large funding that support employers to hire current post-secondary student talent.
Note: The funders listed above are related to hiring post-secondary students. We recommend that all employers work with their local association or the Government of Canada to explore the various other types of funding and grants that may help your business grow.
Want to stay up to date on any announcements from these funding delivery partners? Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest funding and subsidy news!
Get expert advice on which funding will work for you! Don’t waste time applying for the wrong type of funding! Contact our team today and we’ll provide specific advice on which type of funding will offer you the best chance of success.
Step 4: Find your student and apply for your grant!
Now that you have a good idea of what a student can do for you and how much funding support you can receive, it’s time to find your student and apply for funding.
Some funders require you to find your student before you submit your application, whereas others prefer that you apply for funding first. Carefully explore the requirements from your intended funding delivery partner before posting your student opportunity.
When looking for a student, different funders focus on different student characteristics, which may impact the amount of funding you receive. For example, some funders allow recent graduates while others do not. Some offer additional funding for hiring students from under-represented groups, and others may allow hiring of international students. Always be sure to check your intended funding provider’s requirements before posting a role and be clear on the requirements in the posting.
Post your role with us…for free! When you are ready to find your student, we can help with that too! TalentED YYC offers a central job portal so that when you post a role with us, it can go to any of the relevant programs at seven post-secondary institutions in Calgary – all through one click! If you’re confident in your funding and ready to post a job, sign up for our portal here.
Still have questions?
If you’re still interested in learning more before you apply for funding and post a job, connect with us today! Our services are free for employers and we’d be happy to answer your questions, learn more about your business, and help you connect with student talent in the way that will help your organization grow.