Deputy Premier, Minister for Skills, Small Business and Regional NSW John Barilaro today announced that just two months after the NSW Government made apprenticeships free, 2656 people have already seized the opportunity to take up a trade.
Mr Barilaro made the announcement at the official launch of Skills Week at Parliament House last night.
Mr Barilaro said the results are a reflection of the work the NSW Government has put in to transforming the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, spruiking its benefits to future students, parents and employers, and in turn proving to people that university isn’t their only option for a rewarding career and fulfilling life.
“We said at the time we announced the $285 million for free apprenticeships that we expected an influx of enrolments, and that’s exactly what we’ve seen,” Mr Barilaro said.
“As a former carpenter myself, and now Skills Minister, I know only too well the work and lifestyle benefits of taking up a trade, so it’s extremely rewarding for me to see the work we’re doing has encouraged thousands of new apprentices to follow a VET pathway.
“Already 2656 apprentices have signed on for our fee free apprenticeship training since it started on 1 July 2018 and those numbers will continue to grow.”
“As you would expect, the Sydney region had the most new apprentices, with 1382 signing on.
“However it’s pleasing to note that the message has also resonated in regional areas, particularly in places where unemployment remains higher than in other parts of the state. For example, 332 new apprentices have signed on in the Hunter, Newcastle and Central Coast regions, and 74 in Richmond Tweed.
“In short, we are a government that has an ambitious infrastructure agenda, with a desire to build big and tough projects that have the potential to transform the way people in our state live and get around.
“But without the skilled workers, it all counts for nothing, because nothing can be built,” he said.
Fee free apprenticeships have so far been taken up across 53 different course areas. Construction-related trades have attracted the majority of applicants with 1,420 new apprenticeships studying across areas including carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying, wall and floor tiling, civil construction, engineering, and electrical trades.
For 45-year-old Matthew Glendenning from Western Sydney, a fee free apprenticeship has helped him achieve a long desired career change into carpentry.
“It gave me the incentive to leave my job as an industrial arts teacher and embark on a mission to get my builder’s license,” Mr Glendenning said.
“I’ve wanted to be a builder for a long time. The fee-free tuition made it easier financially, as I’ve had to take a big drop in wages and I’ve also got a family to support,” he said.
Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall said TAFE NSW was leading the charge in training the bulk of budding tradies benefitting from the free apprenticeship scheme.
“Across the state we’re seeing more local students taking up the opportunity to get free apprenticeship training with TAFE NSW so they can get a job and help build the infrastructure of tomorrow,” Mr Marshall said.
“Off the back of the free apprenticeships announcement TAFE NSW has experienced a surge in enrolments across a range of trades, particularly in areas such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing.
“This scheme is a win-win for budding tradies, employers and TAFE NSW,” he said.
Master Builders Association (MBA) NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler said the fee free apprenticeships would help the building industry meet growing demand.
“Over the next four years the MBA is forecasting strong and robust growth in the NSW building industry and we have to attract more apprentices,” Mr Seidler said.
“The fee free program is another step in getting more apprentices on the job, and anything that makes it more attractive for employers to take on apprentices is very welcome,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said the fee free program is just one part of the NSW Government’s ongoing efforts to support and encourage people into the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
“On top of making apprenticeships free for 100,000 people, earlier this year we also offered free TAFE courses in digital and financial subject areas for small businesses and their staff,” Mr Barilaro said.
“And to ensure our massive infrastructure spending leads to a skilled workforce for generations to come, we have made sure that companies that win contracts to deliver major government projects take part in what’s called the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program, which requires them to employ minimum numbers of apprentices, female and indigenous workers,” he said.
Mr Barilaro made the announcement at the official launch of Skills Week at Parliament House last night.
Mr Barilaro said the results are a reflection of the work the NSW Government has put in to transforming the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, spruiking its benefits to future students, parents and employers, and in turn proving to people that university isn’t their only option for a rewarding career and fulfilling life.
“We said at the time we announced the $285 million for free apprenticeships that we expected an influx of enrolments, and that’s exactly what we’ve seen,” Mr Barilaro said.
“As a former carpenter myself, and now Skills Minister, I know only too well the work and lifestyle benefits of taking up a trade, so it’s extremely rewarding for me to see the work we’re doing has encouraged thousands of new apprentices to follow a VET pathway.
“Already 2656 apprentices have signed on for our fee free apprenticeship training since it started on 1 July 2018 and those numbers will continue to grow.”
“As you would expect, the Sydney region had the most new apprentices, with 1382 signing on.
“However it’s pleasing to note that the message has also resonated in regional areas, particularly in places where unemployment remains higher than in other parts of the state. For example, 332 new apprentices have signed on in the Hunter, Newcastle and Central Coast regions, and 74 in Richmond Tweed.
“In short, we are a government that has an ambitious infrastructure agenda, with a desire to build big and tough projects that have the potential to transform the way people in our state live and get around.
“But without the skilled workers, it all counts for nothing, because nothing can be built,” he said.
Fee free apprenticeships have so far been taken up across 53 different course areas. Construction-related trades have attracted the majority of applicants with 1,420 new apprenticeships studying across areas including carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying, wall and floor tiling, civil construction, engineering, and electrical trades.
For 45-year-old Matthew Glendenning from Western Sydney, a fee free apprenticeship has helped him achieve a long desired career change into carpentry.
“It gave me the incentive to leave my job as an industrial arts teacher and embark on a mission to get my builder’s license,” Mr Glendenning said.
“I’ve wanted to be a builder for a long time. The fee-free tuition made it easier financially, as I’ve had to take a big drop in wages and I’ve also got a family to support,” he said.
Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall said TAFE NSW was leading the charge in training the bulk of budding tradies benefitting from the free apprenticeship scheme.
“Across the state we’re seeing more local students taking up the opportunity to get free apprenticeship training with TAFE NSW so they can get a job and help build the infrastructure of tomorrow,” Mr Marshall said.
“Off the back of the free apprenticeships announcement TAFE NSW has experienced a surge in enrolments across a range of trades, particularly in areas such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing.
“This scheme is a win-win for budding tradies, employers and TAFE NSW,” he said.
Master Builders Association (MBA) NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler said the fee free apprenticeships would help the building industry meet growing demand.
“Over the next four years the MBA is forecasting strong and robust growth in the NSW building industry and we have to attract more apprentices,” Mr Seidler said.
“The fee free program is another step in getting more apprentices on the job, and anything that makes it more attractive for employers to take on apprentices is very welcome,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said the fee free program is just one part of the NSW Government’s ongoing efforts to support and encourage people into the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
“On top of making apprenticeships free for 100,000 people, earlier this year we also offered free TAFE courses in digital and financial subject areas for small businesses and their staff,” Mr Barilaro said.
“And to ensure our massive infrastructure spending leads to a skilled workforce for generations to come, we have made sure that companies that win contracts to deliver major government projects take part in what’s called the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program, which requires them to employ minimum numbers of apprentices, female and indigenous workers,” he said.