| 3 UPDATES TO HELP YOUR BIZ GROW (OR START) |
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| Opportunity to Hire Co-op Students (at no cost!) |  | Are you looking for some help for your business? Would you like to support York Region teens to gain some real-world work experience? Here is a no-cost opportunity to hire high-school co-op students!
Secondary schools in both the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) and York Region District School Board (YRDSB) support co-op students in finding work to achieve hands-on skills, resume, and portfolio-building high-school credits. In many cases, students are also working towards the co-op-experiential component of their Specialist High Skills Major programs.
Placements can be in any of a variety of sectors, including arts and culture, health and wellness, information and communication technology, business and law, non-profit, hospitality and tourism, construction and trades, manufacturing, and more
This is a partial list of industries in which students are looking to intern during their co-op terms: |
| - Accounting
- Advertising
- Anything involving Information, Communication or Technology
- Architect firm
- Arts and culture, including theatre
- Bank
- Biomedical or biochemical
- Business finance
| - Computer programming or software engineering
- Doctor's, dentist's or orthodontist’s office
- Event planning
- Fashion design
- Food and Restaurants
- Government
- Health and Wellness
- Health care, including hospitals
- Human Resources
- Journalism
| - Landscape maintenance
- Law
- Media (video, film) production
- Nursing home
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Pharmacy
- Skilled trades
- Social Work
- Summer camp
- Veterinary Clinic
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| | | | Students and Schools Students are in grades 11 or 12, and attend a YCDSB or YRDSB high school in York Region. Students must meet the minimum age requirements for a given sector.
Term Length Co-op program terms run from September to January (Semester 1) and February to June (Semester 2). Summer terms run throughout the month of July.
Work Arrangements Students work onsite at the business location. The co-op teacher is required by the Ministry to assess the placement using standard evaluation criteria to ensure student health, safety, well-being, and learning potential. Students work from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30am to 3:30pm, for either a ½ day or a full day (with flexibility to start or end earlier or later upon mutual agreement). The Ministry of Education covers workplace insurance through a signed WSIB Work Education Agreement.
Assessments During the co-op term, the student will complete weekly log sheets, which will need to be signed by their supervisor (e.g. your team). The supervisor is also required to complete Employer Assessments twice during the placement period (mid-term and at the end of the term). The two evaluation dates are outlined in the Coop Calendar that will be provided to employers.
Compensation Students are not typically paid for their co-op term. Instead, students focus on the achievement of learning goals and the development of employment skills.
Application Process Students need to apply for a co-op role. The quality of their application, school attendance, interview with their co-op teacher, along with a resume, cover letter, and interview with the potential placement business determine acceptance.
Expression of Interest Interested businesses and non-profit organizations ("community partners") can submit a classified ad posting here. Co-op teachers will peruse the database and will be in touch if a student match is established. Should no students come forward in a given semester, a match could still be made in subsequent semesters. Community partners can remain in the database on an ongoing basis or request to be removed from the database should circumstances change.
Help your business while also helping a student! If you're interested, provide your information here!
And you can learn more about our region's community-connected experiential learning program here. | |
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| Resources in York Region that help Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs |
|  | There are many resources in York Region that can help you start a business, or help you scale and grow your business. Whether you need space, funding, mentorship, advisory services, leads, or a friendly ear - there's something to help you! Our website has a page of resources that might be of help! And be sure to check out the updated Ecosystem Resource Map! |
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| Upcoming Events |
February 20: Start Building Web and Mobile Apps with React.js This is an introductory workshop for developers and entrepreneurs who are seeking to build applications with the React.js library. Find out more here.
February 21: Startup Drinks - Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur Newmarket entrepreneur Sean Stephens will share some lessons he's learned from starting and growing multiple businesses. Sign up for this pay-for-what-you-order event here! |
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| Please let us know if you have any questions - and thanks for helping a York Region student help your business / non-profit! | |
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