ApprenticeshipSponsor

Become an Apprentice Sponsor

Sponsoring the next generation of skilled workers is a crucial step to future proofing your workforce. As a sponsor, you have the unique opportunity to invest in your business by training the leaders of tomorrow.  Sponsoring can help you build a qualified workforce that


  • supports your business and values
  • is eager to learn and contribute
  • meets the needs of your workplace
  • supports the financial stability of your business through cost savings and incentives


The skilled trades are in high demand. More and more people from equity deserving groups are joining the trades, including women, newcomers and people with disabilities.  By expanding your reach and supporting apprentices from equity deserving groups you can future proof your workforce even further – workers from these groups often make more loyal employees. Plus, you’ll expand your reach and have access to a larger pool of candidates who are eager to learn.



But employers sometimes find the sponsorship process confusing and time consuming.  With the help of Skilled Trades Ontario, the process of taking on an apprentice is now easier than ever!  In this section we break down this process into manageable pieces, so you have all the information you need to hire and sponsor an apprentice.

Why Become a Sponsor

Training an apprentice has many benefits for employers.

 

  • Preparing for the future of your business.
  • In 2021, nearly 1 in 3 skilled trades workers were 55 years or older. From 2021 to 2025 it’s estimated that Ontario needs 148,988 new workers to sustain the Red Seal trades alone (375,026 in all of Canada). 
  • Taking on an apprentice trains the next generation of skilled workers and helps you future proof your business.

  • Gaining loyal employees. 
  • Taking a chance on a new apprentice fosters company loyalty. New apprentices are grateful for the opportunity to learn from you and are more likely to stay with your business after training. This is especially true for people from underrepresented groups like women and newcomers.

  • Training employees to meet your standards.
  • As a sponsor, you have the unique opportunity to train the next generation of skilled workers to your standards and unique workplace.

  • Gaining access to financial incentives and cost savings.
  • Sponsors who hire and train a new apprentice gain access to a range of government grants and tax credits. 


Good news! You no longer have to fill in tons of paperwork as an employer. Most processes for hiring and training apprentices can be done online on the SkilledTrades Ontario website.


6-Steps to Sponsoring an Apprentice Guide

Sponsor Letter Template

How to Sponsor an Apprentice


The process of registering to be a sponsor, hiring an apprentice and registering an apprentice can be complex and confusing.  The "6-steps to sponsoring an apprentice guide" gives you easy to follow, step-by-step instructions to make the whole process easy to understand.  We've also included details of the 6-step guide below.  


When your apprentice is done training, use the "Sponsor Letter Template" to quickly send a letter to the ministry by filling in your and your apprentices information.

1) Evaluate Your Readiness


Before you hire an apprentice, you’ll want to make sure your workplace is prepared. Here are some questions to consider


  • Do you have the space, time and equipment you need to train an apprentice?
  • Can you save time and money and hire an existing employee? You have access to a highly skilled pool of talent within your workforce?
  • Are you a registered sponsor with Skilled Trades Ontario? (If not, scroll down to Step 3 - Register the Apprentice)
  • Do you have a trainer or journeyperson available to train the apprentice?
  • Can you schedule their in-class training so it doesn’t interfere with work?
  • Do you meet the Ontario regulations for your trade(s)? 
  • All trades with journeyperson-apprentice ratios should be 1 to 1 under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021. 


You’ll also want to consider the type of sponsorship that works best for your business.


You as the employer can sponsor and train the apprentice


OR 


You can train an apprentice who is already sponsored by a group sponsor.


 A group sponsor is an amazing resource that supports both apprentices and employers.  They can


  • recruit, screen, interview and register apprentices - all the employer has to do is train
  • help job-ready apprentices find an employer to train them 
  • register the apprentice with Skilled Trades Ontario 
  • connect apprentices with experienced mentors
  • provide support and guidance to employers 
  • give employers information about financial supports for training a new apprentice
  • save employers time and money and help them grow their business 


The group sponsor will also register the apprentice with you, the employer. To learn more about how a group sponsor can save you time and money, check out the Group Sponsorship Tip Sheet. 


There are many unions and support organizations who offer group sponsorships, including




Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of group sponsors. Many employer/trade associations also offer group sponsorships. Visit The Career Foundation website for a list of organizations and associations by sector.

2) Find the Right Candidate


The next step is to find an apprentice who’s a good fit for your business. 


Apprentices must be at least 16 years old and meet minimum education requirements (usually a Grade 12 diploma or equivalent).


Here are some resources to help you find an apprentice.

 

  • ApprenticeSearch.com. Connect directly with apprentices seeking an employer. ApprenticeSearch is a job board designed exclusively for the skilled trades. Apprentices upload their resumes to find employers.  Employers can browse results to connect with candidates.


  • Employment Ontario. Get support from qualified Employment Specialists and access a diverse pool of candidates with Employment Ontario (EO).  Many EO providers hold events and job fairs for specific talent pools, including underrepresented groups such as women or people with disabilities. Employment services can save you money by finding talent for you. Join one of their hiring events to meet job seekers or connect with them to get resumes from skilled workers who are eager for a career in the trades. You can also get support from an EO Job Developer who can help you develop job postings, pre-screen applications and make suggestions about which candidates may be a good fit for your business.

  • The Canada Job Bank is used by job seekers and employers across Canada. Upload your job posting to the Job Bank to attract skilled workers in your area. 

  • Leverage employer/trade associations who offer sector specific and targeted job boards. Visit the Career Foundation website for a list of skilled trade organizations and associations by sector.  

  • Hire youth through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).  Employers partner with their local school boards to prepare students for a career in the skilled trades. Connect with youth beginners who are eager to learn at no cost to your business! Contact your local OYAP recruiter to get started.

  • Attend Level Up! Career Fairs provided by the Government of Ontario. Level Up!is a series of career fairs offered throughout the province. They connect youth with experts in a range of industries to discover rewarding opportunities in the skilled trades. 


  • Connect with your local Workforce Planning Board. Workforce Planning Boards work with a wide network of community and employment services and job seekers in their region. Expand your reach by sharing job postings with your local planning board. Connect with your local planning board.

  • Build connections with your local Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs. Adult upgrading programs work with many learners on the apprenticeship goal path. They can share your job postings with learners who are ready to join the workforce! Contact your local Learning Network to find adult upgrading programs in your area.


2. A) Apprentices from Outside of Ontario 


The hiring process is the same for apprentices who began training outside of Ontario. To evaluate their experience, you’ll want to ask for 


  • work experience
  • For example, a signed letter or documents from a previous employer that confirms their employment and outlines their skills and hours completed or a Work Experience Verification Form. 
  • technical training 
  • For example, a transcript or letter from their college or training program.
  • apprenticeship registration
  • For example, a copy of their training agreement or registration card from their former province or territory. 


Remember! Leveled schooling doesn’t always transfer from province to province. The apprentice may need to start over in Ontario.


Connect with your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office for more details on how to recognize previous workplace and formal training completed outside of Ontario.   



2. B) Apprentices from Outside of Canada 


There are many new Canadians who are highly skilled, but who have completed formal training outside of Canada. These experienced tradespeople may have the skills and experience they need, but don’t have the proper qualifications to work in Ontario. In this case, they can complete the Trade Equivalency Assessment through Skilled Trades Ontario. This is the first step towards certification for experienced workers with international training and experience.  This assessment determines if the worker can challenge the Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) for their trade. The Trade Equivalency Assessment is only available in trades with certifying exams. 


Click here for a list of Ontario trades with a C of Q and other important details on the Trade Equivalency Assessment application. 


For trades without a C of Q, the highest level of certification available is the Certificate of Apprenticeship. In this case, the new worker will need to apply for an apprenticeship using the same process as Canadian citizens. 


Connect with your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office for more details on how to recognize previous workplace and formal training completed outside of Canada.

3) Register the Apprentice


Once you’ve found the right candidate, use the Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) Portal to submit an online apprenticeship training application. Note: If you’ve partnered with a group sponsor, they will do this for you!


You must be approved as a sponsor to register an apprentice. To apply to become a sponsor


OR


If you’ve submitted a sponsorship application and you’re unsure if it’s been approved, log in to the STO Portal to check the status of your application. 


Click here to watch a 5 minute video on how to use the STO Portal as a sponsor, including how to create an account and submit a sponsor registration application. 


If an apprentice is 16 or 17 years old, they must complete the paper application form. This form must be signed by 


  • you, the sponsor 
  • the apprentice’s parent or guardian 


Once this is done, the apprentice can submit the paper application form to your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office. 


You and your apprentice can check the status of your application on the STO Portal. Remember that 



  • you and your apprentice will both need a My Ontario account to sign and send documents
  • you will receive emails about the status of your application
  • you can only move forward with training if the status says “registered”
  • once your status shows as registered, you can access the training agreement at the bottom of the page


4) Sign a Training Agreement


The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) reviews and approves all applications. If successful, your local apprenticeship office will contact you with next steps and outline your roles and responsibilities.  Then you and your apprentice will sign a training agreement to confirm the terms of the apprenticeship. This agreement confirms that


  • the apprentice can apply for financial incentives through the government
  • you (the sponsor) will provide time for the apprentice to complete classroom training
  • your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office can help with scheduling in classroom training
  • you will assign work in compulsory aspects for the trade (work that aligns with the Apprenticeship Training Standards) 
  • you will track the apprentice’s hours and acquired skills and confirm when they’ve completed their workplace training based on the Apprenticeship Training Standards 


If you have questions or need support during training, contact your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office. Or, if you’ve partnered with a group sponsor, you can contact them for support.

5) Train Your Apprentice


As the employer/sponsor, it’s your responsibility to make sure your apprentice learns the skills of the trade as outlined in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book. Review the logbook with the apprentice regularly to track what they’ve completed and what’s left to learn. You must sign off on skills when the apprentice learns them, but the process differs for competency and hours based trades. 


Competency based trades require that sponsors/employers sign off on skills as the apprentice learns them - not at the end of training. If you don’t follow this process, the Ministry won’t accept the logbooks. Once the apprentice has completed their training, submit the signed logbook to the Ministry. 


Hours based trades require that sponsors/employers submit the required documents once the apprentice completes their hours. This includes


  • the completion forms found in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book
  • a completion letter 


Included in the resources for this section is a completion letter that you can download and customize to your business. This letter can be sent to your ministry representative from your business when your apprentice has completed their hours.


Remember 



  • Connect your apprentice with a mentor whenever possible. Apprentices learn best with the support of a mentor.
  • Review the logbook with your apprentice regularly.
  • Sign off on acquired skills as your apprentice moves through training (if applicable).
  • Update the Ministry of any changes to your business information or the training agreement. If you’ve partnered with a group sponsor, they can update the Ministry on your behalf.
  • Contact your local Employment Ontario office to help your apprentice enroll in classroom training (if needed).
  • Contact your local Learning Network if your apprentice needs to upgrade their reading, writing, math or soft skills.

6) Finalize Training 


The last steps are to finalize training and complete the required paperwork.  After an apprentice finishes all levels of classroom and on-the-job training, they can take the Certificate of Apprenticeship (C of A) exam. If they’re successful, the apprentice will receive the Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) and become a certified journeyperson. 


Remember - there are certain responsibilities for you and your apprentice as you reach the end of training. To get the C of A, you must confirm to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) that the apprentice has completed training. Note: If you’ve partnered with a group sponsor, they can do this for you.  This may include


  • a letter (we've created a sponsor letter template to make this quick and easy - you can find it in the resources for this section)
  • proof of sign-off on all mandatory skills (the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book)
  • the Apprenticeship Completion Form (found in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book)
  • the Skillset Completion Form (found in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book)


Talk to your Ministry consultant or group sponsor to confirm your requirements for completion. Visit the Government of Ontario website for more information on finishing an apprenticeship and what comes next. 


Remember! If your apprentice is having difficulty at any point in training, review the Step Up and Succeed resources on skill development for your apprentice.  Here you’ll find information about free programs that can help your apprentice improve important skills like


  • math for the trades
  • reading
  • writing
  • collaboration
  • problem solving
  • exam preparation
  • communication
  • test anxiety
  • and more
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