SWPP Gearing Up Program: What Counts as a Net New Placement?

If you’re applying to the SWPP Gearing Up Program, the term “net new placement” can make or break your application. Many mining employers assume any student hire qualifies—but that’s not how MiHR defines it. Understanding what counts as a net new placement helps you avoid rejection and plan student hiring that actually qualifies for funding.

The Gearing Up Program is part of the federal Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and is delivered by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR).

What “Net New Placement” Means Under the Gearing Up Program

Under the Gearing Up Program by MiHR (SWPP), a net new placement is a student work-integrated learning (WIL) position that increases the total number of student placements your organization offers compared to a baseline year.

In simple terms:
You must be hiring more students than you normally do, not replacing existing student roles or reusing past placements.

How MiHR Determines Your Baseline

MiHR looks at your historical student hiring to set a baseline. This is usually:

The previous year’s number of student WIL placements, or
An average of prior years, if requested during assessment

Any student hired above that number may count as net new.

Example:

You hired 2 students last year
This year, you hire 3 students
✅ Only 1 placement is considered net new and eligible for Gearing Up funding

What Types of Placements Can Count as Net New

To qualify as a net new placement under the SWPP Gearing Up Program, the role must meet all of the following conditions:

Paid work-integrated learning placement
Offered by a Canadian-owned mining or mineral exploration employer
Based in Canada (remote or on-site allowed)
Structured as a co-op, internship, field placement, or applied project
Above your baseline number of student hires
Not combined with other federal wage subsidy programs

MiHR encourages placements that support underrepresented groups, including:

Women in STEM
Indigenous peoples
Persons with disabilities
Visible minorities
Recent immigrants
First-year post-secondary students

Placements involving these groups can receive higher funding support.

How Much Funding Is Available Per Net New Placement?

Under the Gearing Up Program:

Up to $5,000 per eligible student placement
Up to $7,000 per placement if the student is from an underrepresented group

Funding is paid as a wage subsidy, meaning you must pay the student first and then claim reimbursement.

What Does Not Count as a Net New Placement

These scenarios commonly cause applications to be denied:

Replacing a graduating student with another student
Re-hiring a student into the same role year over year
Converting an unpaid internship into a paid one without increasing total headcount
Hiring students through a post-secondary institution as the employer of record
Stacking Gearing Up with other federal wage subsidies

If your total number of student hires stays the same as past years, the placement is not net new, even if the job title or student changes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Assuming any student hire qualifies

MiHR only funds placements that increase your overall student headcount. Replacement hires do not count.

2. Miscalculating your baseline year

Using the wrong reference year can reduce or eliminate your eligible net new placements.

3. Stacking federal wage subsidies

The Gearing Up Program cannot be combined with other federal wage subsidy programs.

4. Failing to document job creation

You must show that the role is incremental. Weak documentation can delay or deny funding.

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly check whether your planned hire meets SWPP and MiHR rules before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I rehire the same student and still count it as net new?
Yes, but only if your total number of student placements increases compared to your baseline year. Rehiring alone is not enough.

Q: Do remote student placements count as net new?
Yes. Both on-site and remote structured WIL placements are eligible under the Gearing Up Program.

Q: Can non-profit mining organizations apply?
Yes. Non-profits operating in the mining or mineral exploration sector are eligible employers.

Q: What if I hired no students last year?
If your baseline is zero, any qualifying student placement may be considered net new, provided all other requirements are met.

Q: Can I use provincial wage subsidies with Gearing Up?
In some cases, yes. The restriction applies to other federal wage subsidy programs, not provincial ones. Always confirm before stacking.

How Student Work Placement Wage Subsidies Stack With Provincial Hiring Incentives
Federal vs Provincial Wage Subsidy Programs in Canada: Key Differences
Common Mistakes Employers Make When Applying for Wage Subsidy Grants

Next Steps

If you’re planning student hires in mining or mineral exploration, confirming whether a role is truly net new should be your first step. GrantHub tracks active wage subsidy and student placement programs across Canada, including SWPP streams like Gearing Up. Checking your eligibility early can save weeks of rework and reduce the risk of rejected claims.

SWPP Gearing Up Program: What Counts as a Net New Placement?