Community and Employer Partnerships

The Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) funds projects to increase training and work experience for job seekers in B.C. Over 7,200 British Columbians have gained employment experience on 684 projects throughout the province.

CEP projects help to reduce poverty while strengthening the labour market, supporting communities, and contributing to economic growth.

Notice to Applicants:

CEP Applications are Now Open!

Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project applications for the 2025-26 fiscal year are open.

Due to a significant reduction in Federal Government funding to the Province of almost $74 million, CEP 2025/26 will focus on fewer, strategically chosen job creation partnerships (JCP) and project-based labour market training (PBLMT) projects to ensure maximum impact and alignment with the ministry and national priorities:

Community-driven projects customized for job seekers with complex needs, far removed from the labour market and who have difficulty accessing traditional employment services   
Equitable program investment across the province
Indigenous-led projects
Projects with a duration of 12 months or less.

Submissions will be assessed based on their merit and how they address at least one or more of these areas. We recommend contacting us at CEPTEAM@gov.bc.ca to discuss your project idea before submitting an application.

For a successful application, visit the "What's New" section of the page to learn about important updates for CEP 2025 applicants.

Please note the application portal will be open for a limited time, subject to funding availability and applications received that meet key priorities.