Innovator Skills Initiative
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.
More Information
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. A key priority of the program will be supporting more Indigenous placements.
Employers will offer valuable paid work experience to prepare individuals for ongoing employment.
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
Innovate BC will provide employers with links to resources to support them in recruiting, retaining, and developing employees who self-identify as under-represented.
Employer Eligibility
- A B.C.-based technology business/organization hiring for a business or tech role
- A B.C.-based non-tech business/organization, including public body and Indigenous community, hiring for a tech role
Must have one of the following:
- A minimum of 5 full-time employees at the time of application
- Demonstrated revenue growth, user growth, or market expansion over the past 12 months; OR
- Have secured invested (seed, angel or VC)
Employee Eligibility
- Self-identifies as belonging to an under-represented group
- Must be living in B.C. and be eligible to work in B.C.
- Must be a new hire on or after April 1, 2025
- Has completed training or education on or after December 1, 2022, whether at a post-secondary institute or through other recognized pathways.
Placement Eligibility
- Must be at minimum a 4-month period
- Must start no earlier than April 1, 2025 and end no later than December 31, 2025.
- Must be at minimum an average of 15 hours per week
- Application deadline: November 20, 2025
- Earliest hire date: April 1, 2025
- Latest work placement end date: December 31, 2025
- Read the Program Guidelines
- Submit the Application Form
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Innovate BC offers grants that require hiring skilled workers. Below are some organizations that can help you find the right candidate.
If you’re interested in hiring tech talent, please reach out to a contact below with your job description and the Innovate BC program you applied for.
- BrainStation connects employers with their Talent Network. | Contact
- Jelly Academy | Contact
- Lighthouse Labs | Contact
- Palette Skills is a national talent platform that meets the needs of Canada’s most innovative companies by helping them source the talent they need. | Contact
- NPower Canada graduates are prepared for many roles such as QA Analyst, Help Desk Agent, Business Analyst, Jr. Software Developer and Information Security Specialist. | Contact
- Empowered for Employment connects employers with recent graduates 55+ from their vocational training programs in accounting, delivered through the Vancouver Community College. Many graduates also have prior high qualifications in additional areas. | Contact
- UBC Sauder School of Business creates connections between students, graduates, and employers. | Contact
- UBC's Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) students have 3-4 years of prior work experience. | Contact
- UBC Department of Computer Science MSc and PhD students emerge with world-class skills. | Contact
- UBC job board is no-cost to use and connects employers with UBC students and alumni. | Contact
Program Guidelines
FAQ
Each individual step (Employer Application, Employee Confirmation and Employee Intake) in the application process takes up to 30 business days to process. The Employer will be notified of their application status via email shortly after review.
Yes. Note that the grant is disbursed after the work term has been completed.
Employers can apply for a grant retroactively for work terms that started in the past, with a start date no earlier than April 1, 2025.
Yes, grant stacking is permitted as long as the combined value of all grant funding does not exceed the employee’s salary. Limitations apply: Grants supported by Innovator Skills Initiative funds through our partners (e.g. ICTC, Mitacs, First Nations Technology Council and BC Tech Association) are not eligible for the same employee at the same time.
No. An employee must reside in B.C. in order to be eligible.
Yes, if they are authorized in writing to work in Canada under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have reached $10,000 in salary payments and a minimum of 3 months has passed, contact us to inquire about submitting for early claim.
Success Stories
Learn more about how our talent programs helped these B.C. companies
