Timing of the essence for prospective trainees

Timing of the essence for prospective trainees

6 March 2013

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today confirmed the Apprenticeship Re-boot will commence immediately. Previously the start date had been announced as 1 April 2013.

The announcement confirmed that the re-boot subsidy will be payable to New Modern Apprentices at Level 3 and 4 in 2013 only, and all industry trainees enrolled in a programme of study at Level 4 of 120 credits or more in 2013 and beyond.

The Skills Organisation, an industry training organisation (ITO) that works with 19 industries is encouraging people who are considering entering a priority trade and also any 120 credit/Level 4 programme that today’s announcement offers them a rare opportunity.

“This is a great opportunity for people who have been thinking about signing up for an apprenticeship or Level 4 programme,” says Garry Fissenden, Chief Executive of The Skills Organisation. “By capping the numbers funded the window for this opportunity could be quite short and we recommend contacting your ITO as soon as possible.”

The reboot offers the first 10,000 new apprentices and trainees enrolling from today a $1,000 contribution towards their tools and equipment, and off-job course costs, or $2,000 for the priority trades. The same amount will also be paid to their employers.

Any apprentices or trainees signed into 120 credit/Level 4 and Modern Apprenticeships from today will also be subject to a 90-day stand-down period before the reboot funds can be applied for.

The Skills Organisation has many qualifications it believes will meet criteria for eligibility, as well as those industries that have been identified as priority trades. Clarification is being sought for those specialist trade industries not identified as priority trades.

“This is an exciting time for the industry training sector, the contribution that our industries make to the New Zealand economy will be boosted by this funding,” said Fissenden.

ENDS

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