Small Business Internship Program (SBIP)

I am a student

Students interested in being a part of the SBIP must meet the following criteria:

  • be under the age of 30;
  • be enrolled in a post secondary education program and intending to return to school;
  • be legally entitled to work in Canada (this includes permanent residents of Canada but does not include those awaiting permanent status, or persons with temporary work visas, such as students who have graduated and have temporary work visas);
  • be committed to full-time employment period totalling 420 hours; and
  • not be related to members of the directors, owners, officers or managers of the business.

What are the benefits of this program?

Small and medium-sized businesses will receive financial support towards the employment of post-secondary students who will work on e-business projects. The Government of Canada will reimburse up to 75% of the eligible wages and related expenses such as statutory employee benefits, to a maximum of $10,000.

Students gain valuable work experience as well as help fund their post-secondary education.

How to apply?

Hiring for the SBIP will be done by the SMEs who are involved in the program. Post-secondary students should check job boards at their local universities and colleges as well as any places where job advertisements may be placed by businesses looking for student interns.

Interested post-secondary students who meet the criteria can send their résumé along with a covering letter to the participating small and medium-sized businesses.

If you have an idea for an e-business project, you are encouraged to contact a business to discuss the possibility of working together. The business then completes an application form. If the project is approved, the business can then proceed in hiring you if you meet the employment profile.

What are the student interns’ obligations?

SBIP student interns are expected to:

  • demonstrate motivation, shared responsibility and commitment to achieving project goals;
  • submit a short project report to the employer by the completion of the project;
  • provide their consent to participate in the evaluation/assessment of the project;
  • complete and submit the Participant Information Form (PIF); and
  • not be in receipt of Employment Insurance at the commencement of Internship.

How many students will get placements?

The SBIP will award approximately four hundred student placements across Canada per year. Each placement will last 12 weeks.

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