Skilled construction workers are a sought-after commodity in a sector seeing huge activity with expectations for continued growth.
Daniel Platts and Troy Routledge have taken up the chance to gain skills as part of the government initiative to provide free trades training and employer support in the construction sector.
“I was contemplating getting back into an apprenticeship and it was the free training that made me decide to go ahead,” says Daniel.
He says taking on an apprentice means the employers don’t have to take as much of a risk as if they took on someone who was completely green.
“It’s a great idea from this government although it’s been a long time coming,” says Mudgway Construction owner, Jason Mudgway.
“In the last 12 months there has been a 63 per cent increase in the number of apprentices into the building sector,” says Building Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) Chief Executive, Toby Beaglehole.
That’s 430 apprentices in training of whom 230 are carpenters and the rest, painters and decorators and other specialist trades within the Nelson Tasman region.
“We’re delighted by the increase and are keen to see it continue,” says BCITO Area Manager, Neville Ward.
As part of the Trades and Apprenticeships Training Package, $320 million has been set aside to support free trades training in critical industries, such as the construction sector.
A further $412 million has been invested in the Apprenticeship Boost initiative which supports employers to retain apprentices and to hire and train more people.
The apprenticeship fees covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) is set to finish on the 31st December 2022.