Major Trades Training Provider Welcomes Incentives for Apprentices and Employers

The Wellington Institute of Technology welcomes the recent announcement by Prime Minister John Key on financial incentives for new apprentices and their employers.

 ï¿½It has been widely recognised that the building and construction industry required a kick-start to get the rebuild of Christchurch underway and re-invigorate apprenticeship training across the country.  The recently announced financial incentives for new apprentices and their employers will encourage more people to continue their studies and gain a higher level qualification,� says Linda Sissons, Chief Executive of the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec).

�We trained around 1300 people last year in the Priority Trades (carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating, brick and blocklaying, engineering, electrotechnology).  These graduates have a solid pre-trade tertiary level qualification and are ready to fit into a workplace and an apprenticeship and make a contribution from day one,� says Linda Sissons.

 ï¿½We are currently taking enrolments for our trades programmes and demand is again strong.  We are investing in a great new site for carpentry training and we have committed to increasing (or put significant resources into) the number of people studying engineering to meet a labour market shortage.

�I would urge young men and women to think about trades training as a good career option.  There are many opportunities for advancement in the building and construction industry and as the PM has said, the need for a higher skilled labour force which can contribute to innovation and productivity is essential for a strong economy.�