Business + Higher Education Roundtable

What Business + Higher Education Roundtable does

BHER is a Canadian not-for-profit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ottawa that operates as the only national convening body bringing together leaders from Canada's largest corporations and leading post-secondary institutions. Its core mandate addresses skills, talent, productivity, and innovation challenges by facilitating work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities, with a long-term federal objective of achieving 100% WIL participation among Canadian post-secondary students before graduation.

BHER's product surface combines convening services, WIL program delivery infrastructure, and custom research. Its flagship Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Programs connect students with employers through co-ops, internships, and project-based placements, supported by the WIL Hub—an online resource center featuring an ROI calculator, student mentoring tools, and employer guidance. Custom R&D services deliver qualitative and quantitative research on accessibility, upskilling/reskilling, AI adoption, productivity, international talent, and net-zero transition. Leadership Tables provide biannual meetings, annual summits, and focused roundtables as the convening layer. The technology stack is light—BHER does not develop proprietary software platforms, with value delivered primarily through in-person convening, digital resources, and collaborative research.

BHER operates a hybrid revenue model combining membership fees from corporate and institutional members, federal government funding (notably from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada / ISED) to scale WIL programs nationally, and professional services revenue from custom R&D work for members and external clients. Distribution is direct, with CEO-led membership outreach and a partner delivery network spanning 32+ provincial and 6 national WIL delivery organizations. The membership base includes RBC, D2L, Deloitte, AWS, Bruce Power, Teck Resources, Enbridge, and PCL, alongside a representative cross-section of Canadian universities, colleges, and polytechnics.

Name

Business + Higher Education Roundtable

Legal name

Business + Higher Education Roundtable

Website

https://bher.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) is an Ottawa-based not-for-profit founded in 2015 that convenes Canadian corporations and post-secondary institutions to expand work-integrated learning and address national skills, productivity, and innovation challenges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Convening Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Work-integrated learning
• Workforce development programs
• Business education convening
• Skills talent research
• Membership convening services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: BHER operates as a not-for-profit membership organization. Business leaders and post-secondary institutions pay to become members, gaining access to convening events, roundtables, research, and collaborative opportunities. The membership model enables BHER to facilitate cross-sector collaboration between Canada's largest companies and leading post-secondary institutions.
2. Government funding: BHER was created and incubated by the Business Council of Canada in 2015 and spun out as a standalone not-for-profit in 2019 with a federal mandate. The organization receives government funding (notably from ISED — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) to fund WIL programs and research initiatives.
3. Custom R&D services: BHER offers custom research and development services to members and external clients, leveraging its expertise and position in the skills and talent ecosystem to conduct qualitative and quantitative research projects of varying scales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BHER is a Canadian not-for-profit convening organization that brings together leaders from the country's top companies and post-secondary institutions to address skills, talent, productivity, and innovation challenges. Its core offerings include Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) programs that connect students with employers, the BHER WIL Hub online resource center with interactive tools, custom research and development services, leadership tables and convening events, and evidence-based thought leadership publications.

Product overview

BHER operates as a convening organization rather than a technology company, offering a unified suite of programs that connect Canada's largest companies with leading post-secondary institutions. The core offering centers on Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Programs, supported by the WIL Hub platform featuring interactive tools like an ROI calculator and student mentoring resources. Additional offerings include Custom Research & Development services, Leadership Tables & Convening events, and Thought Leadership content including publications and reports. These products work together to address Canada's skills, talent, innovation, and productivity challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Programs BHER's flagship initiative enabling post-secondary students to gain practical work experience through co-ops, internships, industrial projects, and innovative WIL placements. The program connects employers with students and tracks outcomes through interactive tools. To date, more than 70,000 WIL opportunities have been created through more than 2,000 business-postsecondary collaborations.
• BHER WIL Hub Online resource center providing interactive tools including an ROI calculator, student mentoring programs, and employer guidance to optimize work-integrated learning experiences. The hub is freely accessible and supports self-service discovery for employers, educators, and students.
• Custom Research & Development Services Qualitative and quantitative research services leveraging BHER's position in the skills and talent ecosystem, covering areas including WIL, accessibility, upskilling/reskilling, AI adoption, productivity, international talent, and net-zero transition. Projects are delivered to members and external clients on a custom-engagement basis.
• Leadership Tables & Convening Biannual member meetings, an annual Leadership Summit, focused roundtables, and networking events that connect business leaders with post-secondary decision-makers across industries and regions of Canada. Members shape priorities from convening through to research and program agendas.
• Thought Leadership Publications Evidence-based publications, reports, guides, webinars, and podcasts addressing skills, talent, productivity, accessibility, AI adoption, and innovation challenges in Canada. Content is freely accessible via the BHER website and supports policy influence and lead generation for membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 70,000 WIL opportunities created through more than 2,000 business-postsecondary collaborations
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers48 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, foundational, emerging and minor.

• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025BHER and RBC collaborated on a major research paper titled 'Capitalizing on a Highly Educated Workforce: How Post-Secondary Education Can Help Fix Our Productivity Crisis.' The joint research was launched at an event hosted at George Brown College, bringing together over 120 decision-makers from industry, higher education, and policy. The partnership combines BHER's convening power and research expertise with RBC's economic research capabilities and thought leadership platform.
• TechAlliance of Southwestern OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechAlliance serves as a WIL delivery partner in Southwestern Ontario, connecting SMEs with post-secondary students through innovative WIL projects. In collaboration with Fanshawe College and Huron University College, TechAlliance has facilitated 791 new WIL opportunities over 1.5 years. TechAlliance also organized student showcases and job fairs to address workforce challenges faced by businesses in the region. BHER provides funding and program framework while TechAlliance delivers on-the-ground employer engagement and student placement.
• ECO CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECO Canada is a WIL delivery partner funded by BHER, working specifically on green skills and net-zero transition training. ECO Canada delivered a net-zero transition bootcamp in partnership with University of Yukon, supporting BHER's broader commitment to building a workforce ready for green economy careers and connecting business and education leaders across Northern Canada.
• Business Council of CanadafoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Business Council of Canada created and incubated BHER in 2015. Business Council President & CEO Goldy Hyder serves on BHER's Board of Directors. The Business Council remains a member and foundational partner in BHER's cross-sector convening model.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)coreOthersBHER receives federal government funding through ISED to strengthen WIL capacities and scale WIL ecosystems across Canada. ISED funding enables BHER to deliver WIL programs through its national network of partners. This government partnership reflects BHER's federal mandate to help every post-secondary student access work experience through WIL.
• Fanshawe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFanshawe College is a key WIL delivery partner in Southwestern Ontario, working with BHER and TechAlliance to connect students with SMEs through innovative WIL projects. The college has been involved in sectoral projects that matched students with real-time employer challenges across technology and innovation sectors.
• Huron University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuron University College participates in BHER-funded innovative WIL projects in collaboration with TechAlliance and Western University. The institution has been involved in connecting students with local employers through project-based WIL, including work with small businesses and non-profits in the London, Ontario region.
• Western UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern University (University of Western Ontario) is a major partner in BHER's Ontario WIL programs, working through TechAlliance to engage students in social sciences, humanities, and arts with the tech sector. More than 1,000 students have participated in WIL through this partnership. Western's employer relations team conducts needs assessments and facilitates connections between employers and students.
• University of YukonemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Yukon is undergoing a major transition from college to university with 12 campuses, serving unique Northern communities. BHER's R&D Director Matthew McKean and WIL Director Andrew Bieler visited Whitehorse to meet with Vice-Chancellor Lesley Brown and explore ways BHER can support Yukon's skills and talent development needs, including green skills and innovation partnerships.
• George Brown CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Brown College hosts BHER events including the RBC research launch and participates in construction, finance, and technology sector WIL programs. The college is working with BHER on programs to expand WIL access for graduate students (master's and doctoral level) and on digital transformation in the construction sector.
• Centennial CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentennial College participates in BHER's Ontario WIL programs with a focus on GTA and priority sectors. The college has been involved in innovative WIL partnerships addressing employer needs in information, culture, and technology industries.
• MitacsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHER and Mitacs are both major national organizations working to strengthen Canada's research and innovation ecosystems. While both organizations work at the intersection of business and academia, they serve complementary roles. BHER focuses on WIL and broader skills/talent ecosystem development while Mitacs specializes in research internship programs. The organizations collaborate on shared objectives around innovation, productivity, and research partnerships.
• OCAD UniversityemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCAD University joined BHER as a member to strengthen engagement in BC and participate in arts, design, and innovation-focused WIL programs. The university brings expertise in design thinking and creative problem-solving to BHER's cross-sector collaborations.
• Ontario Tech UniversityemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Tech University joined BHER to participate in skills and technology WIL programs in Ontario, bringing expertise in technology, engineering, and digital innovation to the BHER network.
• eCampusOntarioemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHER participates in eCampusOntario events and discussions on micro-credentials and the future of post-secondary education. CEO Val Walker spoke at the 2025 Micro-credential Summit on how business-higher education partnerships can enhance the role of micro-credentials in meeting regional skills needs.
• Northlight InnovationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthlight Innovations in Whitehorse, Yukon, operates as an innovation hub with maker space, coworking, and startup support. BHER organized a networking lunch for green economy leaders at this venue in partnership with ECO Canada and University of Yukon.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: U.S.-based membership association for international education and exchange professionals. Comparable as a large membership-based organization convening higher education institutions and engaging with employers on talent pipelines and skills mobility, though focused on international education.
• Conference Board of Canada: Canada's largest independent research and convening organization for senior executives and policy leaders. Comparable as a membership-based research and convening body serving CEOs across Canadian corporates and producing policy-relevant research.
• Business Council of Canada: BHER's founding and incubating organization; an association of CEOs of Canada's largest corporations. Comparable as a high-level CEO convening body producing policy research, though focused on broader business-policy issues rather than education specifically.

Direct peers

• Future Skills Centre: Canadian not-for-profit focused on skills research, innovation, and evaluation with government funding. Comparable as a federally funded skills intermediary producing research and piloting workforce development programs across Canada.
• Mitacs: Canadian not-for-profit that funds and coordinates research internships between post-secondary institutions and industry. Identified by BHER itself as a complementary national organization working at the intersection of business and academia; overlapping funder base and target members.
• ECO Canada: Canadian not-for-profit delivering WIL programs and skills training, particularly in the green economy. A BHER WIL delivery partner (funded by BHER, working with University of Yukon on net-zero bootcamps); directly comparable as a sectoral skills nonprofit.
• CEWIL Canada: National body for work-integrated learning and co-operative education in Canada. BHER participates in CEWIL Canada events; both organizations promote WIL standards, employer engagement, and student outcomes measurement across Canadian post-secondary institutions.
• Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC): Canadian not-for-profit that conducts research and convenes stakeholders on digital economy skills, talent pipelines, and WIL. Comparable as a sectoral skills intermediary producing evidence-based research and operating national programs bridging employers and educators.
• Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF): U.S.-based cross-sector convening organization linking major corporations with higher education leaders on workforce, skills, and research collaboration. It is the closest international analogue to BHER's dual business-education convener model and federal-policy-aligned mandate.

Regional players

• Magnet (Toronto Region Board of Trade): Canadian not-for-profit employment platform and workforce research organization that connects employers, post-secondary institutions, and job seekers. Comparable as an intermediary operating in the same WIL/talent space, though more product/technology-led and regionally anchored.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bhercanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Business + Higher Education Roundtable