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Sponsors and Employers
Sponsors and employers play pivotal roles in shaping your apprenticeship journey.
The Sponsor
Your guiding organization.
- Facilitating Learning: Your sponsor is the organization responsible for:
- arranging paid employment for you in your trade,
- ensuring you get quality on-the-job mentorship, and
- supporting your progression through your apprenticeship program.
- Formal Agreement: You'll enter an Apprenticeship Education Agreement with your sponsor. | Learn More
- Tracking Progress: The sponsor signs off on your on-the-job hours in your blue record book. | Learn More
The Employer
Your on-site trainer and supervisor.
- Employment: Your employer is the individual or company that hires and compensates you for your work.
- Mentorship: The employer provides you with on-the-job mentorship, typically through a certified journeyperson. This ensures you're continually learning and refining your skills on the job.
What's the difference?
For many apprentices, the sponsor and employer are one and the same.
However, some apprentices work with numerous employers under the umbrella of a single, separate sponsor.
Example: Union Sponsor
- Sponsor: A union can act as your sponsor, dispatching you to various job sites for hands-on experience and guiding your apprenticeship journey.
- Employer: The individual or company at each job site becomes your employer, offering you work and mentorship.
Example: College/Polytechnic Sponsor
- Sponsor: The school (such as NAIT) can act as a sponsor, using its ties with industry partners to connect you with an employer.
- Employer: The individual or company at each job site becomes your employer, offering you work and mentorship.
Not all unions or schools offer sponsorship. Check with yours to find out.