Apprenticeship reboot sees jump in sign-ups

An overhaul of the apprenticeship scheme has seen 89 new apprenticeships started in Northland this year.

The Apprenticeship Reboot was announced in January by Prime Minister John Key, as part of an overhaul of the apprenticeship scheme to get more apprentices qualified and more in priority trades.

From January 1 next year all apprenticeships will be combined into a single nationwide scheme called New Zealand Apprenticeships.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said as at October 10, 8010 people nationally signed up for training in apprenticeship programmes. The 8000 signed up in seven months compares to 7000 normally for a full year.

"The reboot has resulted in a 67 per cent increase of people starting apprenticeships compared to the same period last year. Two thirds of all apprentices signed up under the scheme have been in the designated priority trades such as construction, engineering, infrastructure, and electro-technology," Mr Joyce said.

In 2012 there were 154 registered apprentices in Northland, this year that number is up to 243.

For the purposes of the reboot, an apprentice is defined as an industry trainee working towards a Level 4 qualification of 120 credits or more and must have been in training for 90 days or more.

The reboot is estimated to cost $28 million. Funded was set aside in Budget 2012 to transition the training system.

"The apprenticeship changes will make a significant contribution towards meeting the Government's Better Public Services target of 55 per cent of 25-to-34 year-olds gaining a Level 4 or above qualification," Mr Joyce said.