Small Enterprise Co-Op Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP)

To provide small businesses with the opportunity to build their workforce and get exposed to the value of co-operative education.

Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Advanced Education and Skills

Overview of the Small Enterprise Co-Op Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP) program:

Co-operative education formally integrates the student's academic study with alternating paid work terms in co-operating employer organizations. Memorial's Co-operative Education Services Centre is currently accepting applications from the small business sector to provide challenging employment and educational opportunities to post secondary co-operative education students in Newfoundland and Labrador. SECPAP offers a wage subsidy to successful applicants. Applications will be reviewed to ensure eligibility and by the appropriate Co-operative Education Coordinator to ensure that the proposed placement represents an appropriate work experience.

Benefits of the Small Enterprise Co-Op Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP) program:

The objectives of SECPAP are as follows:
To expose small businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador to the value of co-operative education, thereby creating a long-term demand for co-operative education students and graduates;
To expose co-operative education students to the small business sector, and entrepreneurial activity in general, as viable and attractive career options.

Eligibility criteria of the Small Enterprise Co-Op Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP) program:

Employer Eligibility
To be considered eligible, the work term must be located in Newfoundland and Labrador and have:
Fewer than 50 employees
Annual sales of less than $ 5 million
An individual (generally paid staff member) capable of supervising and evaluating the student(s)
Adequate facilities/accommodations for the placement
A defined task with an appropriate academically relevant job description
An understanding of the purpose and academic requirements of co-op work terms
An appreciation of the role of the small business sector and its potential for future work opportunities for students
A limited amount of funding is also available for non-profit/community-based organizations (excluding political parties, municipalities, and labor unions).
Student (Employee) Eligibility
Participation will be limited to students enrolled in Memorial University of Newfoundland's cooperative education programs
Students must be academically eligible to undertake a work term
Students are not eligible to work in placements not related to their field of study
Students must be 16 years of age or older and must be eligible to work in Canada
Immediate family members of applicants would normally be ineligible to be hired in that particular organization