
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Do you have a project or workload that requires additional staff resources to complete? Is your company looking for innovative and affordable ways to grow your talent pipeline and bridge knowledge gaps? If so, then a post-secondary student may be able to help!
Student Talent Connect was an initiative that assisted Hamilton employers with accessing post-secondary student talent from McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Redeemer University.
The program ran from February 2024 to March 2025, supporting local employers to leverage work integrated learning (WIL) to expand their workforce capacity and develop a strong talent pipeline.
The Student Talent Connect program is now closed. We encourage interested employers to utilize our Legacy Resource to learn about WIL, identify local options, and connect with a post-secondary institution of your choice.

CONTACT
Looking to hire? Download our Legacy Resource, a comprehensive package all about WIL in Hamilton!
If you are interested in pursuing a WIL opportunity, we recommend you connect with your institution of choice a semester AHEAD of your desired student start date. Please find the post-secondary institution contact information below to connect with the experiential office and learn more about how to qualify:
McMaster University
Mohawk College
Redeemer University
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), and what does it include?
Work-Integrated Learning, or WIL, is an umbrella term that describes opportunities businesses have to work with post-secondary students, such as internships, co-op and field placements. These structured placements prepare students for work while allowing employers to build their skill, talent, and innovation pipeline.
Each term, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Redeemer University are looking for employers to host talented post-secondary students through (WIL) opportunities. From paid work placements as part of a diploma or degree program, to more flexible unpaid co-curricular experiences, there are a variety of WIL opportunities available that vary in length, cost, and time commitment.
To learn more about WIL, please see the following resources:
Why Use WIL?
Utilizing WIL provides businesses a chance to expand their workplace capacity, while aiding students develop their employability skills: https://bher.ca/wil-hub/explore-wil/wil-101
WIL Categories
Workplace integrated learning takes many approaches to ensure students are gaining valuable work experience. There are many emerging models of WIL that BHER supports: https://bher.ca/wil-hub/explore-wil/types-wil
Employer Benefits
Employers are able to evolve through WIL by hiring innovative students, gain higher productivity in the workplace, and grow their business: https://bher.ca/wil-hub/explore-wil/employer-wil-benefits-a-glance
Success Stories
BHER’s initiative has lead to numerous success stories across Canada, through solving business problems, and building an innovative, resilient workforce: https://bher.ca/wil-hub/explore-wil/canadian-success-stories
Your WIL Placement
BHER provides prospective employers with a self-assessment designed to help employers better understand their capacity and WIL category, based on their workplaces current capacity: https://bher.ca/wil-hub/explore-wil/find-your-wil
How can working with a student benefit my business? What skills can I access?
WIL student tasks range anywhere from taking on a specific project, or picking up the general workload in the office. While WIL students will look to work in their prospective field to enhance their skills and knowledge, students will take on various tasks based on your needs, as well as the nature of their placement. WIL students are highly motivated to learn and take on new challenges, and bring with them a valuable skillset.
Through this project, employers hired talented students from diverse pipelines and majors including:
- Business
- HR
- Advertising & Marketing
- Journalism & Public Relations
- Tourism
- Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Kinesiology
Are there funding opportunities available?
Employers may explore various funding opportunities and financial incentives to host a work-integrated learning student. Interested employers are encouraged to refer to the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit, the Ontario Innovation Tax Credit, or the Student Work Placement Program to learn more about their eligibility.
VIDEOS
Student Talent Connect is a Hamilton Chamber of Commerce program in partnership with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, and with support from the Government of Canada. Partners include McMaster University, Mohawk College, Redeemer University, and Workforce Planning Hamilton.

Video By
Christoph Benfey
Photography By
Reg Beaudry
Website By
Dunham