Union Training and Innovation Program - Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy
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About Union Training and Innovation Program
The Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy (CAS) funds a range of projects to support skilled trades and apprenticeship training, innovation and partnerships in Red Seal trades.
The UTIP falls under the framework of the CAS and supports Team Canada Strong in its objective to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next 5 years.
The UTIP’s objective is to improve the quality of training in the skilled trades, enabling a more skilled, certified and productive workforce.
UTIP also aims to improve the participation of equity-deserving groups in the skilled trades, helping build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Key target groups include:
- women
- Indigenous people
- newcomers
- persons with disabilities
- youth
- racialized communities
- members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities
Funding opportunities
There are currently three funding opportunities open under the UTIP.
*New* Supports projects that increase union training capacity through renovations, expansions or new builds.
Eligibility: unions and organizations managing training trust funds for unions
Apply between October 15th and November 12th, 2026
*New* Supports innovative approaches to help pre-apprentices, apprentices and journeypersons succeed in the skilled trades and partnerships between organizations
Eligibility: unions, organizations managing training trust funds for unions, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, municipal governments, provincial or territorial government, Indigenous organization, including band or tribal council, and self-government entities.
Apply between October 15th and December 17th, 2026
Supports the purchase of equipment and materials to train workers in the Red Seal trades.
Eligibility: unions, organizations managing training trust funds for unions, or training providers.
Apply anytime.
Find out which funding opportunity is right for you
Answer a few questions to identify which UTIP funding opportunity may be right for your organization.