Facts Sheet
Modern Apprenticeships, a new work-based education initiative for young people, will be established over the next 18
months by Skill New Zealand.
These new training arrangements will combine the best aspects of traditional apprenticeships with additional features
designed to assist more young people to get access to employment-based training towards national qualifications.
Although the number of people in industry training (organised through Industry Training Organisations) is at a high
level, only 10% of the 56,000+ industry trainees in December 1999 were aged under 20 years.
The aim of Modern Apprenticeships is to expand the number of young people in systematic industry training leading to
national qualifications by establishing a new, supported, career pathway. It will be highly regarded by young people,
employers and the community at large. Some Modern Apprenticeships will be available to older people wishing to start a
new career.
Some design features of Modern Apprenticeships are:
Apprentices will be employed and have a registered training agreement with an ITO. Normal ITO subsidy arrangements
will apply to the training agreement.
Apprenticeships will be available across a wide range of industries, expanding over time to include new areas such as
business administration.
Training will be competency-based and lead to a nationally recognised industry qualification at Levels 3 or 4 on the
National Qualifications Framework.
Modern Apprenticeships will primarily target young people aged 16-21 years on entry. Others wishing to start a new
career may also be eligible.
Apprenticeships will include on and off-job learning.
Apprentices will each have an individual training plan, including generic skills where necessary.
Mentoring support will be available to the apprentice through the services of a ‘broker’ or Apprenticeship
Co-ordinator outside the firm. The Apprenticeship Co-ordinator’s goal is to ensure that the apprentice is able to
successfully complete their qualification.
Apprenticeship Co-ordinators will also provide an apprentice recruitment service for employers and provide training
administration support to make it easy for employers to participate in Modern Apprenticeships.
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