Innovate BC will provide employers with links to resources to support them in recruiting, retaining, and developing employees who self-identify as under-represented.
Sponsoring Agency: Innovate BC
Type of Fund: Program
Deadline Available: Available
Deadline Date (mm/dd/yyyy): 03/11/2022
Size of the Fund: Less than USD $50,000
Innovate BC will provide employers with links to resources to support them in recruiting, retaining, and developing employees who self-identify as under-represented.
The Innovator Skills Initiative provides up to $10,000 to help employers hire a new employee. The program helps under-represented people get their first job in B.C.’s tech sector and supports companies facing skills shortages to grow and expand.
The Innovator Skills Initiative is designed to increase diversity in the tech sector and help B.C.-based businesses fill talent shortages and grow. The program provides grants to employers that are hiring for tech or tech-related roles.
The program aims to help more under-represented people get their first job in the tech sector by ensuring placements for under-represented people are available.
Employers will offer valuable paid work experience to prepare individuals for ongoing employment.
Benefits
Employers can receive:
• A maximum of one grant of up to $10,000 per candidate per company to supplement a new employee’s salary
• Up to 10 grants for 10 different employees per year
Eligibility
• Employer Eligibility:
o Must be one of the following:
A B.C.-based tech company or non-profit hiring for a business or tech role
A B.C.-based non-tech company or non-profit hiring for a tech role
A B.C.-based post-secondary institution hiring for a tech role
A B.C.-based local/regional authority or Indigenous community hiring for a tech role
• Employee Eligibility
o Self-identifies as belonging to an under-represented group:
Indigenous
Black and people of colour
2SLGBTQQIA+
Neuro-diverse
Persons living with a visible or invisible disability
Women
Youth from care
Non-binary
Other
o Must be eligible to work in B.C.
o Has completed training or education on or after December 1, 2019, whether at a post-secondary institute or through other recognized pathways.
• Placement Eligibility
o Must be at minimum a 4-month period
o Must start no earlier than June 1, 2021 and end no later than July 15, 2022.
o Must have a start date no later than March 15, 2022.
o May be part-time or full-time
More information at: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/hiring-grants/innovator-skills-initiative/
Eligible Countries:
Canada
Business Categories:
Business, Employment
