Page 10 - HW May 2022

hard news
Another boost for
apprenticeships
In a pre-Budget 2022 announcement, the Government announced it is extending support for trades training programmes.
The $230 million investment
which is part of Budget 2022 means another 24,000 apprentices will get Apprenticeship Boost support and around 14,000 can be supported beyond August this year.
There are already 17,000 employers involved in the programme.
However, to extend the initiative “at reasonable cost”, the first-year subsidy rate will lower to $500 per month from 5 August 2022.
The second-year subsidy rate will remain at $500 per month until the initiative ends in December 2023.
BCITO, now of course a division of Te Pūkenga subsidiary Work Based Learning, supports the Government’s decision to extend its Apprenticeship Boost scheme.
Director of BCITO, Jason Hungerford, says that Apprenticeship Boost is essential for training the skilled pipeline of workers needed in the building and construction industry.
“With record demand for construction work, and despite current supply chain issues, New Zealand needs qualified workers more than ever. To have an innovative and responsive education system, targeted investment in vocational training is vital.”
BCITO has seen rapid growth in its apprentice numbers, which are now at record levels, since Apprenticeship Boost was introduced in August 2020.
At the end of March 2022, BCITO had 21,600 apprentices undertaking training across 15 trades, up 55% from August 2020, while the number of employers supporting apprentices has increased from 6,900 to 9,500.
www.beehive.govt.nz
Bunnings continues Trade Centre roll-out
FOLLOWING ITS INVERCARGILL and Pukekohe Trade Centre openings earlier this year, Bunnings has now opened its third site of 2022, in the Tauranga suburb of Tauriko.
Tauriko is the ninth Trade Centre so far and replaces the Te Puke site, representing an investment of more than $7 million.
Unlike Te Puke, Tauriko is fully undercover and spans some 4,000m2, features a trade drive-through, as well as 20+ external car parks, and offers Bunnings’ normal trade categories as well as a special orders desk, and services such as delivery direct to site, installation and access to a Bunnings Trade Account Manager.
The Tauriko site is run by Manager Joe Baker, who has 30+ years’ experience in trade supply and says the team can’t wait to welcome local tradies to the new site.
“We’re looking forward to better servicing trade customers in the local area, with a team of experts across a range of customer services roles. We’ve been servicing trade customers from the Te Puke site for a long time, so it will be great to build on the great relationships we’ve formed and provide them a stronger commercial offer that better suits their needs.”
The Tauriko Trade Centre is located at 166 Taurikura Drive, Tauriko 3110.
https://trade.bunnings.co.nz/
8 NZHJ | MAY 2022
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