Employers play a vital role in the apprenticeship and certification system by mentoring apprentices to become skilled and confident journeypersons.

In addition to this, employers can volunteer to be part of a sector committee or industry working group. This is a unique opportunity to voice the needs and concerns of specific trades and the wider industry, and contribute to the standards that future apprentices will learn and develop skills in as part of their apprenticeship programs. Employers and journeypersons who are interested in joining a sector committee or industry working group can apply by submitting an application to the Apprenticeship and Certification Board.

Employers are expected to:

• Enter into an Apprenticeship Agreement with their apprentices and have the agreement registered by Apprenticeship Manitoba.
• Assign a certified journeyperson or designated trainer to supervise the apprentice’s on-the-job training.
• Ensure supervisors provide feedback to the apprentice on their performance.
• Ensure that the required hours of on-the-job training and technical training are completed.
• Report updates on apprentice’s development and on-the-job hours using AccessManitoba.
• Allow the apprentice to attend the required technical training and exams — see the Trades Profiles for requirements.
• Pay the apprentice the wages outlined in the trade regulation.
• Notify Apprenticeship Manitoba if an apprentice is no longer employed by your business – this is required in writing within 15 days of the apprentice’s last day of employment.

Employer Responsibilities

Like with any employee that is learning and requires mentorship, employers have identified costs associated with apprenticeship including wages; journeyperson time to train; loss in production due to mistakes made; and some employers choose to cover technical training fees.

However, many employers see the apprenticeship program as a key recruitment and retention strategy that provides an impressive return on investment. As apprentices learn and develop their skills, they will provide employers with a higher return on investment.

Employers have identified advantages to hiring apprentices:

• tax credits and wage subsidies are available to employers
• skilled productivity - by end of the second year of apprenticeship, even though apprentice wage rates rise, so does apprentices’ productivity and the revenue they generate

According to a detailed analysis by the Apprenticeship Forum (CAF), skilled trades businesses in British Columbia earn up to $1.47 for every $1.00 invested in apprenticeship training. A similar report by CAF for Alberta skilled trades indicated a return on training investment of $1.41 for every $1.00 invested.

Apprentices are typically trained on the job by a journeyperson. A journeyperson is someone who has achieved a Certificate of Qualification in their trade and is therefore qualified to train an apprentice.

However, when a journeyperson is not available, an experienced tradesperson may qualify to be designated trainer for an apprentice to supervise their work.

An experienced tradesperson must apply to be recognized as a designated trainer and meet criteria, including:

• experience in 70 per cent of the scope of the trade
• worked 1.5 times the term of apprenticeship within the past 10 years
• documented proof of their work experience

In compulsory certification trades (such as Construction Electrician or Crane Operator) ONLY journeypersons are allowed to train apprentices.

Learn more

Each journeyperson can supervise one apprentice under the current 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Ratio adjustments permit employers to apply to have their journeyperson supervise more than one apprentice based on a demonstrated need. Due to remote locations or industry challenges, there may be valid reasons that an employer does not have enough journeypersons to provide the required training. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Apprentices can access a variety of supports if they need additional assistance on the job or in the classroom. A good place to start is to talk with the apprentice and ask how they feel they are doing and what they think they need to succeed. Review the resources that are available to see if you can find a solution together.

Consider the resources available:

• Does the apprentice need to brush up on basic skills like reading, math or communication? See Essential Skills training
• Is there a challenge at home preventing the apprentice from succeeding? See Mentoring Resources

For technical training, make sure the apprentice has explored available aids:

• Supports and services at their school
• If they have a learning or other disability, they may need special accommodations or help from the Accessibility FIRST Program
• Financial support during technical training
• Mental health help
• Women facing challenges may find support in the trades

If available solutions have not worked, consider:

• Is there a poor fit between the journeyperson and the apprentice?
• Is there a lack of commitment from the apprentice, possibly due to a mismatch between their expectation and the realities of the trade?

Make sure to contact Apprenticeship Manitoba to learn about the supports that are available for apprentices.

There is no guarantee that a skilled journeyperson will make for a skilled mentor, particularly when it’s their first time being paired up with an apprentice.

Explore available resources online: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum – Leadership and mentorship training

An employer or employer representative needs to set up a user name and password and then create an individual AccessManitoba profile. Contact Apprenticeship Manitoba at 204-945-3337 or toll free at 1-877-978-7233 to see if your business information has already been entered in AccessManitoba due to previous dealings with Apprenticeship Manitoba or AccessManitoba.

If your business information exists in the system, Apprenticeship Manitoba staff will link your individual profile and the business. You are now the primary contact person for the business.

NOTE: The primary contact person is the only representative of the business who can change the address, phone number and other business information online.

Yes, you will need to log on to AccessManitoba using your existing login credentials. If you don't have a personal record, you will need to create a personal username and password. If you have a new business you can add your new business to your personal record. However, if your business is already set up in AccessManitoba (you had an apprentice in the past), notify us and we will link your existing business profile to your new record.

You will need to contact your Apprenticeship Training Coordinator (ATC) for them to create the “relationship” link with your profile and your business. If you do not know the number for your ATC you can call Apprenticeship Manitoba at 204-945-3337, toll free at 1-877-978-7233 or by email at apprenticeship@gov.mb.ca.

Hours can be reported as often as you like. However, to keep your apprentice on track with their apprenticeship you should report, at minimum each time the apprentice begins technical training. If an apprentice leaves your business, it is also very important to report the hours before their last day. 

Only AccessManitoba users who have been linked to your company can report hours for an apprentice. If you require more than one person, please contact your Apprenticeship Training Coordinator after the user has created a user name and password in AccessManitoba and they will be added to your profile.

No, apprentices cannot report their own hours. The system functionality does not allow for this at this time. 

Yes. Apprenticeship Manitoba has an orientation video that takes you step by step through setting up a profile and using the many options for applications and reports as an apprentice or as an employer.

Only apprentices can register and pay for technical training online. As an employer, you cannot access your apprentice's profile directly, so you cannot register on behalf of the apprentice online. However, you can register your apprentices by phone or by mail. As an employer, you can still cover the costs of technical training by having your apprentice register into technical training and remit their receipt to you so you can reimburse them through your company's payroll process. Alternatively, you can buy a prepaid VISA or MasterCard at a financial institution on their behalf so that they can complete the purchase online.

Yes, however, a separate payment and separate application is required for each apprentice that you register, and employers can register apprentices only by phone or mail. Apprenticeship Manitoba staff are using the same system that apprentices themselves are accessing to register online for courses. There is no guarantee that your entire list of apprentices will be accommodated if certain class offerings are in high demand. We recommend expanding your list to include multiple class offerings into which your apprentices can be scheduled, just in case Apprenticeship Manitoba staff cannot get them into their "first-choice" offering.

Staff at any workplace deserve a safe and respectful environment to do their job. Contact Safe Work Manitoba or your industry’s safety association for more information.