NEWS

Apprenticeship Boost initiative extended

22 March 2021

The Apprenticeship Boost initiative has been extended until August 2022, to further support trades training.

Covering eligible apprentices in their first 24 months of training, Apprenticeship Boost payments assists employers like ATNZ to keep existing apprentices and employ new ones – and we pass the payment onto our host companies.

The initiative has been available since August 2020 and means an employer of a learner in the first year of their apprenticeship is eligible for $1,000 per month, and an employer of an apprentice in their second year is eligible for $500 per month.

Announced by Education Minister Chris Hipkins on Saturday 20 March, the extension will help employers keep apprentices on during the ongoing tough COVID-19-related times.

“Extending the Apprenticeship Boost means employers can keep getting the subsidy for apprentices who are in their first two years of training. It also means employers who have apprentices starting over those extra four months can get some Apprenticeship Boost support as well, which could see more than 5,000 new apprentices able to benefit.”

“This decision keeps more people employed and learning valuable vocational skills that will accelerate our economic recovery from COVID-19,” Minister Hipkins added.

Since its launch, the Government reports more than 10,000 employers have signed up and received almost $97 million in subsidies for more than 21,000 apprentices.

With support like fees-free apprenticeships and the Apprenticeship Boost wage support, there’s never been a better time to host an ATNZ apprentice – let’s start the conversation.