Ontario’s employer supports

Employers who train apprentices may be eligible for grants to help mitigate the cost of training. The Achievement Incentive and Group Sponsorship Grant will help more employers take on apprentices to build Ontario’s apprenticeship and skilled trades pipeline.

Achievement Incentive

The Achievement Incentive is a grant program that:

  • helps employers train apprentices by reducing some of the cost of training
  • supports apprentice progression by giving grant payments to employers when their apprentices reach major milestones

The program offers up to $4,000 to eligible employers when apprentices meet training and certification milestones, including:

  • $1,000 milestone payments for each level of in-class training completed by the apprentice, up to a maximum of 3 levels
  • an additional $1,000 payment once the apprentice achieves the highest level of trade certification in their respective trade, such as Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification

Milestone payments are retroactive to April 1, 2020.

How to qualify

Eligible employer and group sponsors will:

  • be notified by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development when their apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification
  • receive a web-link to apply electronically through a secure, one-time online application

Get more information about the Achievement Incentive.

Group Sponsorship Grant

The Group Sponsorship Grant gives up to $1,000,000 annually to encourage employers to come together using a group sponsorship arrangement to hire and train apprentices.

In a group sponsorship arrangement, employers share apprenticeship management and training responsibilities, which can:

  • streamline administration
  • structure and improve the quality of training
  • increase opportunities for apprentices to train in all aspects of the trade
  • reduce pressure on any one employer to see an apprentice through the completion of training
  • provide a pool of trained trade-specific workers who are well positioned to meet the needs of the labour market

The program provides grants over a maximum of three years.

How to qualify

Prospective, new and existing group sponsors may apply for funding by submitting a business case application , including:

  • workforce intermediary
  • employer-unions
  • cooperatives

Your application must demonstrate your ability to complete key activities that align with program objectives. Please refer to the Group Sponsorship Grant Program Guidelines for details on eligible and non-eligible organizations.

How to apply

Get more information about how to apply.

Please contact Employment Ontario for more information about available supports and incentives.

Federal employer supports

In addition to the provincial funding, employers may be eligible for money from the federal government including:

Source: Ontario Government