Changes To Apprenticeships Get The Thumbs Up

Changes To Apprenticeships Get The Thumbs Up

25 January 2013

Government changes announced today will help raise the validity of apprenticeship training and make it easier for employers to take part, Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said today.

Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce have today announcedresults of an 18-month review into industry training.

Mr Oldershaw said the announcement was an endorsement that industry training offered value-for-money, high quality training and would allow the sector to improve on that.

“The changes are largely positive. We particularly welcome the news that there will be no differentiation between support available to apprentices based on their age. This will give opportunities to second chance learners and give more flexibility to employers.

“And we look forward to working with the Government on its Apprenticeship Reboot programme to increase the understanding of the New Zealand Apprenticeship scheme and offer start-up incentives to apprentices.

“Our focus will be on ensuring that qualifications gained through apprenticeships and industry training are seen as valuable and leading to meaningful careers, and without the burden of student loans.

“Industry Training contributes more than $7 billion a year to GDP and provides Government with a significant return on its $156 million annual investment.

“Changes announced by the Government today will allow us to focus on supporting good quality training in areas of need, and that can only support economic growth,” Mr Oldershaw said.

The Industry Training Federation is a voluntary membership organisation representing
all of New Zealand’s Industry Training Organisations.

ENDS

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