SPHERE
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersClarke City, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SPHERE does
SPHERE (SPHERE-Québec) is a Quebec-registered non-profit organization founded in 1999 that coordinates and accompanies the development and implementation of employment integration projects for persons with disabilities across the province. Headquartered in Québec City with a small, stable team of 11–50 employees led by Director General Nancy Moreau, SPHERE serves three primary beneficiary groups: persons with disabilities seeking employment, employers seeking to hire inclusively, and partner organizations in the employability ecosystem. Its core offerings include the APMT (Apprentissage pratique en milieu de travail) workplace learning measure operationalized under Quebec government mandate since 2024, the EHA (Étudiants handicapés en action) measure launched in 2025 for students with disabilities, the Formation adaptée customized training measure, and a portfolio of employer-facing resources including a toolkit, three-part video capsule series, employer portraits, and a resource directory.
The organization does not develop or sell technology products; its core capability is human-delivered coordination, field-based accompaniment by project agents, and project co-development with a province-wide partner network spanning Quebec's 17 administrative regions. SPHERE's business model is entirely grant-funded: it operates as a delegated-mandate entity entrusted by the Quebec government to administer public policy measures, with approximately $5 million of public funds invested across Quebec programs as of 2019, serving ~1,400 people toward employment and engaging ~1,000 employers and ~800 partner organizations annually. Services are offered free of charge to all beneficiaries. Distribution is multi-channel: direct field engagement by project agents, partner referrals through SSMO and SEMO networks, a website with self-service service request forms, social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), and a monthly employer newsletter. Revenue concentration on a single provincial government counterparty is the defining structural feature of the model.
SPHERE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPHERE
- Legal name
- SPHERE-Québec
- Website
- https://sphere-qc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPHERE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Employment Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where SPHERE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clarke City
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SPHERE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government funding and public financing: SPHERE is a non-profit organization (organisme sans but lucratif) that operates primarily through government funding. The organization manages public funds invested in employment integration programs across Quebec, with contributions from the Quebec government and other public sources. Revenue is not derived from commercial product/service sales but from public financing allocated for disability employment integration mandates.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SPHERE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SPHERE coordinates and accompanies the development and implementation of employment integration projects for people with disabilities across Quebec. The organization manages government-funded programs and measures (APMT, EHA, Formation adaptée, TSA project call), deploys field-based project agents to support employers and participants, and provides practical tools (employer toolkit, video capsules, employer portraits, resource directory) to facilitate the hiring, integration, and retention of persons with disabilities in the labour market.
Product overview
SPHERE offers a portfolio of complementary services and measures focused on employment integration for persons with disabilities in Quebec. The core offerings include APMT (Apprentissage pratique en milieu de travail) for workplace practical learning, EHA (Étudiants handicapés en action) for student employment support, and Formation adaptée for customized training. Supporting resources include the Trousse employeurs with video capsules and employer portraits, a resource directory, and direct services to partners and employers. The organization operates as a coordination and project management entity, working with specialized employment services (SSMO), employers, and training organizations to facilitate employment integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apprentissage pratique en milieu de travail (APMT) A workplace practical learning measure that allows persons with disabilities to develop technical and practical skills directly in a work environment, with appropriate support and follow-up. Operationalized by SPHERE from July 2024 under Quebec government mandate.
- Étudiants handicapés en action (EHA) A measure that facilitates access to employment for students with disabilities during their studies while maintaining school-work balance, with financial support including wage subsidies.
- Formation adaptée A training measure that responds to both theoretical and practical training needs of persons with disabilities and labour market needs in a given sector of activity.
- Services aux employeurs Expert guidance and accompaniment for employers throughout their approach to integrating persons with disabilities into their workforce, providing tailored support across Quebec's regions.
- Services aux partenaires Collaborative support from SPHERE for the implementation of innovative employability projects, including project development assistance, financial follow-up, and activity reporting for partner organizations.
- Trousse employeurs A comprehensive set of tools designed to facilitate reflection and approaches for employers wishing to familiarize themselves with the integration and maintenance in employment of persons with disabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,400 people accompanied toward employment annually, with collaborations involving ~1,000 employers and 800+ partner organizations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SPHERE
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SPHERE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SPHERE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- ROSEP (Regroupement des organismes specialized en employabilité des personnes_handicapées)majorROSEP is a key partner in the TSA (autism spectrum disorder) project call, developing tools for employers including a guide for hiring people with autism and 'Autisme et Emploi' video series. SPHERE coordinated the project call while ROSEP contributed expert content and employer-facing resources.
- CRISPESH (Centre de recherche et d'expertise sur les pratiques d'éducation inclusive)majorCRISPESH participated in the TSA project call, developing a guide and tools to make workplaces more inclusive and facilitate communication between neurodivergent and neurotypical workers, contributing expertise on inclusive practices and workplace accommodations.
- ITL (Institut de travail et de santé)minorITL participated in the TSA project call, producing the podcast 'T'engages-tu?' — a 12-episode series hosted by Guylaine Guay exploring the journey of people with autism spectrum disorder from school to employment integration.
- Autisme sans limite (ASL)minorAutisme sans limite produced the 'Parole d'autiste!' video capsules as part of the TSA project call, featuring eight young people from ASL responding to questions about autism awareness and youth employment.
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) — Centre de formationminorUQAC's training center developed a course to deepen knowledge about autism spectrum disorder characteristics and provide employers with tools to facilitate hiring and integration of autistic employees.
- Vivre et grandir autrementminorThis organization produced awareness video capsules on topics including autism spectrum disorder, neurodivergence, and mental health as part of the TSA project call.
- Société Autism LanaudièreminorSociété Autisme Lanaudière produced a trilogy of video capsules with humor presenting themes that foster successful employment market integration, as part of the TSA project call.
- À pas de GéantminorÀ pas de Géant developed a neuroinclusive employability toolkit to assess reflexes in managing neurodiverse teams, as part of the TSA project call.
- Canadian Association for Supported Employment (ACSE)majorACSE is the national association of organizations and practitioners proactive in the employment of people with disabilities. SPHERE co-hosted the 24th Pan-Canadian Congress on Employment Support in Montreal in June 2019, the first time the bilingual congress was held in Quebec.
- Specialized Employment Services (SSMO) / Services spécialisés de main-d'œuvrecoreSSMO are regional employment services that collaborate closely with SPHERE to support employers and people with disabilities. They refer employers, participate in co-developing integration projects, and jointly implement measures such as APMT and EHA across Quebec's regions.
- SEMO MontérégiecoreSEMO Montérégie is a specialized employment organization that provides job coaches and ongoing support to employers and employees with disabilities. They worked with Bio Biscuit to support Nicolas's integration, providing visits, follow-ups, and guidance to the employer throughout the process.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SPHERE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- March of Dimes Canada: National Canadian non-profit delivering employment services, accessibility programs, and post-employment support for people with disabilities. Broader geographic and programmatic scope, but directly comparable on disability employment integration as a service category.
- Ready, Willing & Able (RWA): National Canadian initiative connecting employers with people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder for inclusive hiring. Directly comparable on the ASD-inclusive employment mandate that overlaps with SPHERE's TSA call.
- Neil Squire Society: Canadian non-profit using technology, research, and employment programs to support people with disabilities. Comparable population and employment-integration focus, with an additional assistive-technology angle and national footprint.
- Canadian Association for Supported Employment (ACSE): National association of organizations and practitioners supporting employment of people with disabilities. SPHERE co-hosted ACSE's 2019 Pan-Canadian Congress; comparable ecosystem leadership role across Canada.
Direct peers
- AlterGo: Quebec-based non-profit advancing the social participation and inclusion of people with disabilities, including employment-related initiatives. Comparable mission and target population; operates as a parallel advocacy and service provider within Quebec.
- SEMO Montérégie: Specialized employment services organization (SEMO) in Quebec delivering job coaching, employer support, and ongoing follow-up for people with disabilities. Direct peer with overlapping employer engagement and integration mandate, and a documented operational partner of SPHERE.
- COPHAN (Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec): Quebec confederation representing disability advocacy and service organizations. Comparable population and ecosystem role, with broader advocacy scope but overlapping employer and participant engagement in disability employment.
- ROSEP (Regroupement des organismes spécialisés en employabilité des personnes handicapées): Quebec consortium of specialized employability organizations for people with disabilities. Direct peer in mission and population served, and a co-developer of employer-facing tools (Autisme et Emploi video series) with SPHERE.
- SSMO (Services spécialisés de main-d'œuvre) network: Quebec-wide network of specialized employment services working alongside SPHERE to support employer referrals and integration projects. Comparable service-delivery model and target population, with overlap rather than exclusive territorial competition.
Regional players
- CRISPESH (Centre de recherche et d'expertise sur les pratiques d'éducation inclusive): Quebec research and expertise center on inclusive education practices. Co-participant with SPHERE in the TSA project call (workplace inclusion tools); comparable in regional focus but distinct in research orientation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SPHERE social profiles
Digital presenceSPHERE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
SPHERE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPHERE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SPHERE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPHERE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPHERE
What does SPHERE do?
SPHERE coordinates and accompanies the development and implementation of employment integration projects for people with disabilities across Quebec. The organization manages government-funded programs and measures (APMT, EHA, Formation adaptée, TSA project call), deploys field-based project agents to support employers and participants, and provides practical tools (employer toolkit, video capsules, employer portraits, resource directory) to facilitate the hiring, integration, and retention of persons with disabilities in the labour market.
Is SPHERE a public or private company?
SPHERE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SPHERE founded?
SPHERE was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SPHERE based?
SPHERE is headquartered in Clarke City, Canada, in the North America region.
How does SPHERE make money?
One revenue line is on record: government funding and public financing.
Who are SPHERE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are March of Dimes Canada, Ready, Willing & Able (RWA), Neil Squire Society and Canadian Association for Supported Employment (ACSE). Direct peers are AlterGo, SEMO Montérégie, COPHAN (Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec), ROSEP (Regroupement des organismes spécialisés en employabilité des personnes handicapées) and SSMO (Services spécialisés de main-d'œuvre) network. CRISPESH (Centre de recherche et d'expertise sur les pratiques d'éducation inclusive) is listed as a regional player.
Does SPHERE have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPHERE.
What industry is SPHERE in?
SPHERE's product category is Disability Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAB, Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement), with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.