Apprentice scheme a winner: More gain qualifications with full time work

Rotorua's Nick Cawte is on the fast track to a career in retailing.
The former John Paul College and Western Heights High School student is enrolled in a Modern Apprenticeship at Bike Vegas, where he is gaining an academic qualification while working full time.
Nick is symptomatic of a renaissance in school leavers opting to become apprentices instead of heading off to university or a polytechnic.
Learning at the same time as earning had proved to be a good move.
"I have been here about a year and a half now.
"I was quite lucky in that I knew one of the guys who worked here and I found out he was leaving.
"I am actually here on a retail management and mechanics apprenticeship, learning things about stock control and ordering stock and displays and how to deal with grumpy customers, that sort of thing."
After finishing his three-year apprenticeship Nick will stick around at Bike Vegas for at least a year.
"That's part of the deal because my boss is paying for the papers."
Nick is one of hundreds enrolled in the Modern Apprenticeships scheme which is booming in Rotorua and Kawerau.
The two centres had 251 Modern Apprentices at the end of March, an increase of more than 22 per cent from 205 at the same time last year.
The region is also home to almost 4000 industry trainees in structured workplace learning.
The government's apprenticeship scheme was established in 2000 and currently has 9000 enrolled nationwide with a further 2000 having recently graduated.
Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick says the scheme is proving a boon for the city's economy, producing the right mix of skilled workers for Bay of Plenty business productivity growth.
That means higher incomes and more secure futures for our families.
The 2006 Budget allocated an extra $34.4 million over the next four years to expand the number of apprenticeships to 14,000 by December 2008.
Apprentices work toward a nationally-recognised qualification while their employer gives crucial training and mentoring support.
The scheme is administered by the Tertiary Education Commission which contracts co-ordinators to mentor apprentices and their employers.
The scheme is helping change the perception of apprentice training as a substitute to more formal tertiary education.
Rotorua Principals' Association chairwoman and Rotorua Girls' High School principal Annette Joyce said apprenticeships used to be associated with students who couldn't cope with school.
Now apprentices were seen as those most likely to end up running their own businesses.
"I think schools are seeing now it is a very good career choice for some students."
Destination Rotorua employment skills co-ordinator Jo Gargiulo agreed perceptions of apprenticeships had changed in schools and careers advisers had come to realise the benefits.

John Dolan, manager of Apprentice Training New Zealand, the country's largest employer of apprentices, said schools could still do more to promote apprenticeships.

He said careers advisers had to help students become aware of the benefits, including being able to earn while learning, not having a student loan and gaining an advantage for future employment.