ARCHIVED: Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
British Columbia’s small business owners can now receive one-on-one expert assistance to help them successfully access training funds from the Canada-B.C. Job Grant program thanks to a new partnership with Small Business BC.
This program builds on the Province’s ongoing support of Small Business BC, enhancing their capacity to help small businesses throughout British Columbia, apply for funding, and develop training plans. Small Business BC’s Canada-B.C. Job Grant advisors will provide help to small businesses navigating complex processes, making it faster and easier to access supports saving them time and money.
Business owners can apply to the Canada-B.C. Job Grant to cover two-thirds of the costs of skills training for new or current employees to a maximum of $10,000 for each employee trained per fiscal year. In addition, employers may qualify for up to 100% of costs if the training results in the company hiring a person who was unemployed, up to a maximum of $15,000 for each future employee.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees looking to train or hire staff who find it a challenging and expensive part of expanding their operations will benefit from this partnership.
Applications are now open for training that starts on or before Sept. 30, 2016.
(flickr.com) British Columbia’s small business sector is a priority sector identified in the BC Jobs Plan and a key driver of the province’s diverse, strong and growing economy. To ensure British Columbians have the skills necessary for these in-demand jobs, the Province is re-engineering education and training toward a data-driven system through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, so that programs are focused on training for jobs that will be in demand.
The Canada-B.C. Job Grant is an employer-driven, cost-sharing partnership between the federal and provincial governments as well as employers. Government provides two-thirds of the total training cost for an employee up to $10,000 per person to offset the cost of training, with the employer contributing one-third of the cost of training. With the new Unemployed stream, 100% of training costs can be covered if an employer is training an individual who is unemployed and providing them with a job.
(flickr.com) Quotes:
Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction –
“Small business owners will now have one-on-one-assistance and advice to help them identify training needs so that they can successfully access funds for their employees. Today’s announcement is an important part of our ongoing work to create a positive environment for small businesses in British Columbia, and give them the tools they need to succeed.”
Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training –
“The Canada-B.C. Job Grant has helped thousands of employers and employees in B.C. meet their training needs. Skills training benefits employees and business owners, which helps keep our economy strong and diverse. I want to encourage more small businesses to apply to this important program and access tools to develop a skilled workforce grow their business.”
George Hunter, CEO of Small Business BC –
“We exist so that people who start or have a business in British Columbia have the relevant information, appropriate tools, and resources they need to achieve a successful and sustainable business. We are delighted to help small business owners access the funding they need to upskill workers, hire new employees and grow their operations.”
Terence Sawtell, owner of Goatsocial –
“It's awesome to hear the Province is listening to small business owners. This support through Small Business BC will help small businesses like Goatsocial (goatsocial.com) hire and train great people, making it easier to build a team with the relevant skills required in our industry. This support creates an environment where small businesses can flourish.”
(flickr.com) Quick Facts:
- Small Business BC is B.C.’s premier resource centre for entrepreneurs. Its core activities are also supported by funds from Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Ministry of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction.
- The Canada-B.C. Job Grant is open to applications from BC Jobs Plan Priority Sectors, with targeted funding of up to $3 million.
- On January 18, 2016, British Columbia announced the #BCTech Strategy 2016. $500,000 has been allocated to the Canada-B.C. Job Grant program to assist employers in the Technology Sector to provide training to new and existing staff.
Learn More:
To find out more information about Small Business BC, please visit: www.smallbusinessbc.ca
For more about the Canada-B.C. Job Grant, visit: https://www.workbc.ca/Employer-Resources/Canada-BC-Job-Grant.aspx
