Modern Apprenticeships: Employer factsheet

Eligibility

Modern Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of industries. However, the programme does not cover all industries.

Take a look at the Modern Apprenticeships programme page for information on the industries currently involved in Modern Apprenticeships. If your industry is not listed, talk to your Industry Training Organisation about getting involved in industry training.

In order for a person to be eligible, they need to already be employed in your business and have a formal employment agreement.

They also need to be aged between 16 and 21 years when they start their Modern Apprenticeship, and be ready to start working towards a National Certificate at levels 3 and 4. (Provision may be made for older people seeking a change in career.)

Obligations

Your Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator handles all the administration and paperwork associated with the training. Training is either on-the-job, or off-the-job (for instance at a polytechnic), or a combination of the two.

The Industry Training Organisation will arrange the assessment.

The great thing about Modern Apprenticeships is that most of the training takes place on the job which means your employees remain productive while they are training.

There are some costs associated with Modern Apprenticeships—these include costs for NZQA registration, training materials and courses.

However, the programme receives a subsidy from the government to fund both the training and the services of the co-ordinator, which means that training costs are kept down for both you and your Modern Apprentice.

It can take two to four years for a Modern Apprentice to become qualified. However, you are not locked into the Modern Apprenticeship.

Process overview

1. Go to the Modern Apprenticeships website, or call 0800 4 apprentice (0800 4 27773) and let the Tertiary Education Commission know you are interested in taking on a Modern Apprentice.
2. Make sure you tell them if you have already identified someone you would like to take on. You may already have someone working for you that wants to become a Modern Apprentice.
3. A Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator will get in touch with you. They will sit down and explain how the scheme works and how it will be kept as simple as possible.
4. The Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator helps with selection and recruitment.
5. Once you know who you want to take on, you, the Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator and the new apprentice will agree on an industry training agreement and individual training plan. This plan is reviewed regularly.
6. This plan sets out exactly what your Modern Apprentice needs to learn and how you’ll help them learn it.
7. Your Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator handles all the administration and paperwork associated with the training.
8. The Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator meets with you both regularly to review progress, and to make sure your apprentice is on target to complete their Modern Apprenticeship.
9. Contact your Modern Apprenticeships co-ordinator at any time if you need help or support or if there are any problems or issues that may arise during the course of the apprenticeship.

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