The Minister for Social Development and Employment, Carmel Sepuloni, proudly declared a major milestone today in Christchurch: the Apprenticeship Boost initiative has successfully enlisted the support of 20,000 employers. This initiative, introduced in 2020 by the New Zealand government, is geared towards helping employers retain and train apprentices. Since its inception, it has facilitated the commencement and continued training of almost 62,000 apprentices in various trades.
In August 2020, the Apprenticeship Boost launched, allowing employers to apply for assistance in retaining and supporting their apprentices. Over the course of 3 years, this program proved instrumental in enabling apprentices to continue their learning journey and work towards their qualifications. Under this program, employers with apprentices in their first year received $1,000 in monthly support, while those with apprentices in their second year were eligible for $500 per month. This financial support played a significant role in bolstering the apprenticeship system and promoting skill development in New Zealand.
Eligibility criteria required that apprentices be part of a TEC-approved New Zealand Apprenticeship or Managed Apprenticeship program, with less than 24 months of training completed. Employers were expected to uphold the minimum or training wage standards for their apprentices. This comprehensive initiative covered all aspects of apprenticeship training, including transitions between different employers or qualifications. The Tertiary Education Commission played a crucial role in monitoring and managing apprentices’ progress.
Carmel Sepuloni emphasized the government’s dedication to investing in the workforce’s future by creating opportunities for meaningful employment. This endeavor has not only been beneficial to job seekers but has also provided businesses with a much-needed labor force.
She expressed, “Supporting these 20,000 employers has delivered a win-win for Kiwis looking for work and businesses in need of workers. We purposefully set out to increase the number of apprentices, support businesses, fill skill shortages, and retrain those who lost work as a result of COVID-19. The fact we’ve kept unemployment low, and economic activity is growing, shows that our plan to invest in people is working.”
Carmel Sepuloni also highlighted the failures of the previous National Government following the global financial crisis, noting that they allowed apprentice numbers to plummet as they failed to support businesses in providing training opportunities during challenging financial times. The current government has been proactive in supporting and incentivizing training even in tough economic conditions through initiatives like Apprenticeship Boost, Mana in Mahi, He Poutama Rangatahi, and Māori Trades and Training.
Education Minister Jan Tinetti praised the Apprenticeship Boost initiative for meeting the high demand for skilled workers in New Zealand, especially in the context of rebuilding efforts after events like Cyclone Gabrielle and other weather-related disasters.
She stated, “Apprenticeship Boost is helping us to deliver key infrastructure projects, increase our housing stock and supply, and build the workforce needed to take us forward. We’re also seeing more women take up apprenticeships, notably in building and architecture, which has traditionally been male-dominated. Those sectors now have 850 more women apprentices, an increase of 207% since 2020 when Apprenticeship Boost started.”
Jan Tinetti expressed her immense pride in the progress made in education, employment, and training due to the success of programs like Apprenticeship Boost. This initiative has not only created a pathway for aspiring tradespeople but also fostered gender diversity in trades traditionally dominated by men.
