Build Canada Apprenticeship Service (successor to the Apprenticeship Service)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
The Apprenticeship Service is a $247-million federal program that provided direct grants to employers who hire and register new first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. Employers with 499 or fewer paid employees received $5,000 for each eligible new first-year apprentice hired, rising to $10,000 if the apprentice was from an equity-deserving group. The program targeted the construction and manufacturing sectors and aimed to increase apprenticeship uptake in industries facing skilled trades shortages. It is not currently accepting applications: Employment and Social Development Canada states it is working to renew the Apprenticeship Service, and a successor, the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service, was announced by ESDC on September 18, 2026, offering small and medium-sized employers up to $10,000 for hiring a first-year apprentice in an eligible Red Seal trade. Intake timing is still to be confirmed.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be an employer in Canada in any sector (construction and manufacturing prioritized)
- Previous Apprenticeship Service rule: employers with 499 or fewer paid employees can receive the financial support
- Previous Apprenticeship Service rule: must hire a new first-year apprentice in one of 39 designated Red Seal trades
- Apprentice must be newly registered with the relevant provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority
- Previous rate: $5,000 per apprentice for small and medium-sized employers; the renewed service announces up to $10,000 per first-year apprentice
- Previous Apprenticeship Service rule: employers hiring apprentices from equity-deserving groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, racialized communities, newcomers) receive an additional $5,000 per qualifying apprentice
- Previous Apprenticeship Service rule: must apply within the designated window following the apprentice's registration
- Businesses must be in good standing and not subject to any sanctions preventing them from receiving federal funding
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $10K per apprenticeUp to $10,000 for hiring a first-year apprentice in an eligible Red Seal trade, under the renewed Build Canada Apprenticeship Service announced in September 2026 (not yet open). The previous Apprenticeship Service paid $5,000 per new first-year apprentice, or $10,000 for an apprentice from an equity-deserving group.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Not currently accepting applications. ESDC is renewing the Apprenticeship Service; its successor, the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service (up to $10,000 per first-year apprentice for small and medium-sized employers), launches later this fall with no opening date published.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Accessible — straightforward requirements
Below average competition
Easy — minimal documentation
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThere is nothing to apply to right now, ESDC is renewing the Apprenticeship Service, and CAF-FCA no longer hosts an application surface for it.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to win Build Canada Apprenticeship Service
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
- 4 more application steps
- 4 more required documents
- 3 eligible expenses
- 4 ineligible expenses
- Intake periods
- Deadline notes
- Ineligible organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow Build Canada Apprenticeship Service Compares
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Build Canada Apprenticeship Service