Are you trying to find employees for your business but struggling? Not sure where to go next? If you are a small to medium business in BC, tapping into regional student talent could support your hiring needs while providing a learning experience for a student!

The Interior & Northern Work Integrated Learning (INWIL) Initiative provides easier access to expand your talent pool by connecting small to medium businesses with co-op students from UBC Okanagan, Thompson Rivers University and the University of Northern British Columbia. Co-op not only provides great support for fulfilling an organization’s short term hiring needs, but also provides the opportunity for employers to explore future long-term talent for their organization.

On February 2022, as we hosted Jessi Guercio (he/him) from Thompson Rivers University and Dawn Sheldon (she/her) from UBC Okanagan to help you uncover how you can open the door to cost-effectively hiring to increase capacity of your business while contributing to a future skilled workforce.

In this session we discussed:

• How to tap into regional student talent from 100+ academic programs through the INWIL initiative

• Different grant and funding options available to you as a small or medium-sized business for hiring co-op students

• What employer resources and supports are available through the INWIL initiative to engage student talent

• How hiring Co-op students builds meaningful and engaging learning experiences that can positively impact your organization’s goals and objectives and contribute to long-term regional economic development

While INWIL names the Interior and Northern BC, this initiative is open to businesses based in all regions across BC. Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Co-op students in second year and up, from all different academic backgrounds, are keen to jump in head first and tackle projects, complex problems, or assist in filling a short-term (4-12 month) gap within your organization.

Facilitator: Danielle Andrews, Outreach Officer WeBC

Panelists:

• Jessi Guercio (he/him), Employer Liaison Coordinator at Thompson Rivers University

• Dawn Sheldon (she/her), Marketing & Engagement Project Coordinator at UBC Okanagan