November 1, 2023 – ApprenticeConnect by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is a new, bilingual platform aimed at supporting apprentice recruitment, training, and retention for employers in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Developed in consultation with seven colleges and institutes across the country, ApprenticeConnect serves as a guide, offering employers tailored tools for “navigating every stage of the apprenticeship journey”.

This includes recruitment strategies, onboarding best practices, training resources, and information on available financial support for apprentices and employers. It also includes resources the support the recruitment and development of workers from underrepresented groups in the skilled trades.

The platform is a component of Career Launcher Apprenticeships. Funded by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service Program, it provides hiring incentives of up to $10,000 per new apprentice.

“Pairing this toolkit with Career Launcher Apprenticeships’ hiring incentives presents an unprecedented opportunity to address workforce challenges and ensure a vibrant construction and manufacturing sector in Canada,” said Denise Amyot, president & CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.

The institutions who contributed to the platform include Assiniboine Community College, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Loyalist College, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and Thompson Rivers University.