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Employers
Find all the resources you need to source tech talent.
Supporting Employers in the Tech Sector
How We Support Tech Employers
Candidate Referrals
We connect employers with qualified candidates from our job seeker network. Through our candidate pool and ecosystem connections, we help companies identify potential hires for open roles in the tech sector.
Job Posting Support
Employers can submit job postings to be shared with our network of qualified job seekers, helping increase visibility and connect with talent across Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector.
Immigration & International Talent Support
We provide guidance to employers hiring international talent, including support with the Atlantic Immigration Program and connections to partner organizations that assist with settlement and integration.
HR Support & Best Practices
Our team shares practical HR guidance and tools to support hiring, onboarding, and people management. We also help employers navigate workforce programs, hiring supports, and funding opportunities.
Peer Groups for Tech Leaders
Employers can participate in peer groups for HR leaders, technical sales leaders, and other roles. These sessions provide a confidential space to share challenges, exchange insights, and learn from peers in the local tech sector.
Talent Development Programs
We deliver programs that help employers connect with emerging talent and develop future hires, including internships, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and student engagement initiatives.
Talent Insights & Labour Market Data
We collect and share insights about the tech talent landscape in Newfoundland and Labrador to help employers make informed hiring and workforce decisions.
Funding Sources
There are many facets to techNL’s approach that address short, medium, and long-term goals to fuel the talent pipeline in the NL technology and innovation sector. Here are some resources to help build a more robust and diverse skilled talent population in the province.
Funding to Support Student Hiring/ Internship Placements
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national centre of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. WIL Digital is an innovative Work Integrated Learning program that helps employers grow their businesses by providing financial assistance for hiring post-secondary students. WIL Digital is funded by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). Subsidies are paid to employers who bring on students for a meaningful WIL opportunity. WIL Digital provides: 50% of the student’s salary, up to $5,000.
Additional Info: https://etalentcanada.ca/for-businesses/programs/work-integrated-learning-wil-digital
For more information contact Tim Perron at t.perron@ictc-ctic.ca or 902-401-4324.
Accelerate Internship Program
Mitacs’ Accelerate Internship Program offers funding to hire interns for a minimum of 4 months, and can be extended. The program helps businesses to optimize their budgets, grow their R&D and tap into the expertise of highly skilled students, graduate students, recent graduates and post-doctoral students to solve research challenges. The standard funding model requires a partner (applicant) contribution starting at $7,500 CAD per internship (4 or 6 months) which results in a $15,000 CAD research award. Of this award, the intern must receive a minimum $10,000 CAD stipend or salary. Mitacs’ Postdoctoral researcher funding model requires a partner contribution of $10,000 CAD per internship (4 or 6 months) which results in a $20,000 CAD research award. This funding model is only available to postdoctoral interns.
Additional Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/our-programs/accelerate/#business
Contact(s):
- Heidi Crummell hcrummell@mitacs.ca
- Dipesh Maharjan dmaharjan@mitacs.ca
Business Strategy Internship Program
Mitacs’ Business Strategy Internship (BSI) Program offers funding to hire interns for a minimum of 4 months, and can be extended. This program fosters collaboration between post-secondary students and industry partners, adding capacity for organizations to tackle critical business challenges and drive innovation through business strategy. By connecting skilled research talent with organizations in need of strategic insights, BSI helps enhance operations, improve processes, and develop new opportunities. The BSI program provides an award of $10,000 per intern per four- or six-month internship, with the full amount of the award going towards intern stipend. The partner organization (applicant) will contribute $5,000 towards the award. Alternatively, partner organizations can select a $15,000 funding model where up to $5,000 of the funds can be used for eligible project costs, or to top up an intern stipend. Under this model, the minimum intern stipend for all units is $10,000 and the minimum partner organization contribution is $7,500.
Additional Info: https://www.mitacs.ca/our-programs/business-strategy-internship/
Contact(s):
- Heidi Crummell hcrummell@mitacs.ca
- Dipesh Maharjan dmaharjan@mitacs.ca
Level UP Program
The Level UP Program offered by Riipen offers 60-hour, fully subsidized student internships for Canadian employers. Level UP is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program. With funding from the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program, students are paid a $1,400 stipend for each project completed, processed hassle-free, directly through Riipen.
Additional Info: https://www.riipen.com/levelup
Social Enterprise Wage Subsidy Program
Memorial University’s Centre for Social Enterprise (CSE) places motivated and talented Memorial students with social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador where they will assist on social enterprise-related projects. The Centre is able toprovide a limited amount of subsidies to support these placements.
The employer is responsible for administering the wage to the student upfront. Once students have been paid, and supporting documentation received, the CSE will process a direct payment for reimbursement.
Additional Info: https://www.mun.ca/social-enterprise/community-engagement/wage-subsidy-program/
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Croft at socialenterprise@mun.ca
Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP)
This initiative has been made possible by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Jobs, Growth & Rural Development. CNA Co-op Office and Student Life (Career Development) work in partnerships to administer this program throughout Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). SECPAP funding is available for a maximum of 12 weeks and 35 hours per week. SECPAP will fund 50% of minimum wage, up to a maximum subsidy of $8.00 per hour, for each Co-op student placement approved. The application cycle is as follows for when the applications OPEN: January 1st: Spring Semester placements; May 1st: Fall Semester placements; September 1: Winter Semester placements. It is important to note that the SECPAP subsidy does not cover expenses related to mandatory employment contribution expenses (MERC) such as E.I., C.P.P., vacation pay, and workers’ compensation. Positions funded must not be financed under any other sources of assistance from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Further information and eligibility criteria can be found in the links below.
Information (Memorial University): https://www.mun.ca/coop/employers/funding/
Information (College of the North Atlantic):
https://www.cna.nl.ca/student-employment/pdfs/Co-operative-Education/SECPAP-Application.pdf
Funding for Hiring New Graduates
The Youth Employment Program
The Youth Employment Program, offered by National Research Council Canada (NRC), offers financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring young talent to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components or to help develop a new product or process.
Additional Info: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation/nrc-irap-funding-hire-young-graduates
Funding to Support Company Growth & Job Creation
Business Innovation and Growth projects - Strategic Response Fund
The Business Innovation and Growth category of the Strategic Response Fund (SRF), offered through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), fosters the development of for-profit businesses so that they can invest, grow and create jobs for the prosperity of Canadians.
A range of projects may be eligible, provided they clearly demonstrate the potential to create jobs, promote workforce diversity, and improve quality of life for Canadians.
Full application details and eligibility criteria are available through the link below.
Additional Info: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/programs-and-initiatives/strategic-response-fund/project-requirements/business-innovation-and-growth-projects
Job Accelerator and Growth Program
The Job Accelerator and Growth Program (JAG Program) is a new program created to support job creation and investment in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program will promote economic growth and development by providing a payroll rebate on qualifying incremental job creation. The program aims to attract established companies that are ready to commit to the province long term, have solid management, a record of success, and a clear path to growth. These could be companies outside the province seeking to establish a new presence, or companies in the province that are looking to expand. Full program and eligibility details at link below.
Additional Info: https://www.gov.nl.ca/jgrd/funding/job-accelerator-and-growth-program/#:~:text=The%20Job%20Accelerator%20and%20Growth,that%20are%20looking%20to%20expand
Contact: The Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development at economicdevelopment@gov.nl.ca
The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program
The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program creates the right conditions to start and grow businesses in Atlantic Canada. Through REGI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is helping businesses and non-profit organizations develop a strong, dynamic and inclusive economy.
ACOA offers unsecured, interest-free repayable funding for projects that support strategic business growth and expansion, including initiatives focused on building and growing high-performance teams.
Additional Info: https://www.canada.ca/en/atlantic-canada-opportunities/services/regional-economic-growth-through-innovation.html and https://funding.ryan.com/blog/government-funding/business-scaleup-productivity-atlantic-launch/#:~:text=,innovative%20growth%20and%20productivity%20projects
Contact: ACOA’s Business Information Services at nl.bis-sie.tn@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Funding for Professional Development and Training
Workforce Relief Program
This program, offered by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, is designed to support organizations (employers or industry associations) that demonstrate a need to retain, upskill, or retrain workers due to the direct or indirect impacts of tariffs placed on Canadian goods and/or the associated Canadian retaliatory response. Tariffs can disrupt operations, shift market dynamics, and create new demand for businesses. To remain competitive and resilient, funding may be used to cover costs associated with wage supports, cross-training, up-skilling, and other skills development supports.
Additional Info: https://www.gov.nl.ca/jgrd/files/Workforce-Relief-Fund-WRF-Program-Guidelines-UPDATED.pdf
Contact: EmploymentPrograms@gov.nl.ca
Work With Us
If you are a tech or tech-enabled company in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Ready Tech Talent Office can help you connect with talent and strengthen your hiring strategy. Send us an email at talent@technl.ca to start the conversation.