Sponsoring & Hiring Apprentices

A sponsor is an organization committed to ensuring that apprentices receive quality mentorship while on the job and supporting their progression to complete their apprenticeship training. There is a formal Apprenticeship Education Agreement signed by both the sponsor and the apprentice which is registered with Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT). A sponsor will also assist in the monitoring, verification, and reporting of the apprentice's on the job hours in their competency portfolio.  

An employer is a company or individual that hires and pays the apprentice for their work. The employer provides on the job mentorship to the apprentice, usually under the guidance of a certified journeyperson, to ensure continuous refinement of skills and ongoing learning while on the job. 

In most cases, the employer and the sponsor are the same for apprentices. There are circumstances where they could be separate. An example would be if an organization or a trade union sponsors an apprentice. The organization would then be able to dispatch the apprentice to different job locations for hands-on experience and encourage them through their apprenticeship. At each job location, the individual or company at each of those job locations becomes the employer and provides the work and the accompanying mentorship to the apprentice.