If you or your employees need new skills to keep up with B.C.’s labour market, the Future Skills Grant BC can help cover the cost. This provincial program offers up to $3,500 per person for short‑term, job‑ready training at approved institutions across British Columbia. For many small businesses, it’s one of the fastest ways to reduce training costs while upgrading skills that are actually in demand.
Unlike wage subsidies or business grants, this funding is tied directly to individual learners—but employers often benefit when staff use it to upskill.
The StrongerBC Future Skills Grant was launched under the province’s StrongerBC Future Ready Action Plan. Its goal is simple: help British Columbians gain practical skills linked to real job opportunities.
Here’s how the program works in practice:
Funding amount:
What training is covered:
When it’s available:
How it’s used:
For employers, this means your staff can access subsidized training without your business having to apply for a traditional grant program.
Eligibility is based on the individual, not the business. To qualify, a learner must meet all of the following:
There is no requirement to be unemployed. Employees, self‑employed individuals, and career switchers can all qualify if they meet the criteria.
While businesses cannot apply directly for the Future Skills Grant BC, many use it strategically:
Upskill existing employees
Encourage staff to enrol in eligible programs that improve productivity, digital skills, or technical capacity.
Reduce onboarding costs
New hires can complete training with most of the tuition covered.
Support internal promotions
Employees can gain credentials needed for higher‑skilled roles without the business paying full training costs.
Complement other funding
Pair this grant with wage subsidies or innovation programs when expanding your team.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly see which training grants apply to individuals versus employers, filtered by province and industry.
Assuming the grant covers any course
Only approved, labour‑market‑aligned programs qualify. Hobby or long academic programs are excluded.
Waiting too long to apply
Funding is limited. Popular programs can fill up quickly, even if the grant is technically open.
Thinking employers must apply
The application is handled through the training institution, not the business or WorkBC directly.
Overlooking other training funding
The Future Skills Grant BC may not cover full costs. Other provincial or federal programs can sometimes stack alongside it.
Q: How much is the Future Skills Grant BC worth?
Up to $3,500 per person for eligible short‑term training programs. The amount is applied directly to tuition.
Q: Can small business owners use the Future Skills Grant BC themselves?
Yes. If you are self‑employed, live in B.C., are 19+, and meet the residency and education requirements, you can apply as an individual.
Q: Does the grant cover online training?
Some online or hybrid programs may qualify, but they must be offered by an approved institution and aligned with B.C.’s labour market needs.
Q: Can employees use the grant more than once?
The grant is capped at $3,500 per person. Once that limit is reached, additional training must be self‑funded or supported by other programs.
Q: Is the Future Skills Grant BC taxable?
Because the funding is applied directly to tuition, it is generally not treated as taxable income for the learner. Confirm with a tax professional for your situation.
If you’re building skills capacity in your organization, you may also want to explore:
The Future Skills Grant BC is one of the most accessible training grants in the province, but it’s just one piece of the picture. Many B.C. businesses combine individual training grants with employer‑focused programs to lower overall workforce costs.
GrantHub tracks 2,500+ active grant programs across Canada — check which ones match your business profile and see how training, wage, and innovation funding can work together for your growth.
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