Family Services of Peel was awarded a grant to encourage and support employers (i.e. Small to Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs) to hire first-year apprentices, emphasizing equity-deserving groups, in the manufacturing and construction Red Seal trades across Canada.

This will help first-year apprentices connect with SME employment opportunities, giving them the hands-on experience and support required to succeed in the trades.

We provide financial incentives of up to $20,000 and other support to employers to help address the shortage of construction and manufacturing skilled trades workers in Ontario in any of the 39 Red Seal Skilled Trades.

With the demand for skilled tradespeople growing every day, The  Red Seal Apprenticeship Service is one of the best ways to secure and nurture passionate workers who have the knowledge, skills, training and resources to thrive in a Red Seal trades professions. While simultaneously benefitting enrolled apprentices, the program is highly beneficial to employers who are conveniently able to determine the best candidate using our existing databases that match business needs.

For an employer, taking on an apprentice enables the training of the next generation of workers, which ultimately helps businesses prepare for the future. Whether taking on and training an apprentice who is just starting out in their career or having a general labourer in mind who would be a good contender for a sponsored apprenticeship, there is ample opportunity to foster loyalty and longevity. In fact, securing and retaining quality Red Seal Endorsed talent is an especially resourceful tactic when considering the average age of a journeyperson in Ontario is 47 years old and that around 700,000 skilled Canadian tradespeople are expected to retire by 2028.

Another business advantage is the familiarity an apprentice will have with their employer, as it’s not only the Red Seal standards that are being attained but an understanding of the unique operations of the workplace, who their colleagues are and what is expected of them, with the added benefit of less resistance to criticism as they are there to learn. For businesses operating in a Red Seals skilled trade, sponsorship may also attract higher quality apprentices and other applicants.

As far as financial incentives are concerned, both the apprentice and employer are in an advantageous position. While the apprentice enrolled in the Red Seal Skilled Apprenticeship Service will gain invaluable experience and accelerated growth to becoming a skilled tradesperson, the business will be able to facilitate this process at a far lower cost to the company than employing a fully trained worker. Businesses may also be eligible for several different grants and federal tax credits that are available when one or more apprentice(s) is trained or hired.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to harness talent and secure the future of your business!