Hiring and training apprentices is a great way to build your team of qualified tradespeople. In Ontario, employers have numerous supports to help recruit and train apprentices. These incentives should be used whenever possible to offset labour costs and grow your team of high-quality employees. One of the best incentives for employers is the Graduated…
In recent years, federal and provincial governments have place a strong focus on business innovation in Canada. The Government of Canada’s Budget 2017 announced the realignment of resources to improve innovation programs and strengthen the economy. Investing in business innovation allows small and medium-sized companies to flourish and increase their market competitiveness. In October 2017,…
Across Canada, individuals with disabilities experience lower employment rates and earnings than the rest of the population. Despite being well-educated and eager to work, these individuals are often turned away by employers. There’s a misconception among employers that hiring workers with a disability involves expensive accommodation costs and a lower return-on-investment. This could not be…
As Canadian businesses become more innovative and technology-driven, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find the skilled workers they require. Most industries are feeling the effects of this widening skills gap, perhaps few more than the manufacturing sector where upwards of 35% believe they do not have sufficient talent. These gaps will continue to…
Building a team of top talent is one of the greatest challenges facing business leaders. Deloitte’s 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report suggests that talent acquisition is the third most pressing challenge for companies to solve, and PLANT Magazine’s 2017 Outlook survey revealed that five of the greatest challenges businesses face all stem from recruiting…
Sculpin QA has been awarded nearly $900,000 in small business grants and loans to enhance VR technology by developing new tabletop games. The company has strategically leveraged a mix of federal and provincial funding, which will be used to hire additional support staff to develop, test, and market its newest gaming software. The contribution will…
Please Note: The Export Manager Program is now closed and not accepting further applications. For trade show grants and other forms of export support, please visit our page on Business and Export Expansion Funding Programs. Developing international business operations is critical for the long-term growth of Canadian firms. Yet for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),…
The Government of Ontario has projected that by 2019 a total of 323,000 jobs will be created, but many of these positions will go unfilled. This is mainly attributed to employers’ inability to find properly trained and/or educated candidates to fill their roles. This growing challenge has made it difficult for business owners to develop…
The Canadian federal and provincial governments recognize the financial commitment businesses need to make to invest in growth and development initiatives. To help offset some of these costs, business owners can access government funding to maximize the impact of their strategic projects. Business owners and executives can become more aware of these opportunities by attending…
The Bank of Canada’s quarterly Business Outlook Survey summarizes interviews between the bank and approximately 100 senior managers from businesses across Canada. Its purpose is to gather the perspectives of these businesses on topics such as demand, capacity pressures, and other economic indicators. The Summer 2017 Business Outlook Survey signalled that businesses are gaining strength…