Kia ora koutou,
I hope your year has started productively and your business is managing well through the prolonged economic recovery as we look forward to a successful 2025 year.
At EarnLearn we were thrilled to start the year with the launch on 3 February of our new Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (PGD) training programmes that have redesigned the training delivery model to allow increased on-job training and assessment options while still providing the traditional block course delivery. There is more detail in the newsletter below, but the new programmes will initially roll out for first year apprentices this year.
There are a few key updates for you, one being the Government’s December announcement which saw them go out earlier this year seeking further consultation on the future delivery of industry training as part of the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga. The latest round of industry consultation closed on 21 February and is now being reviewed and considered by the Government with an expected announcement on a decision in April. The decision to be made is on two options put up by the Minister with further details in the article below.
Another change that came into effect on 1 January 2025, that impacts your trainees and apprentices, is the move of the Fees Free programme away from first-year Fees Free to a final-year Fees Free scheme. For work-based learning trainees they are eligible to have their last two years of fees covered or up to $12,000, if they have not claimed the first-year Fees Free entitlement. The fees will be refunded direct to the trainee on completion of their training programmes.
A reminder, if you are an employer of a first year apprentice you may be eligible for Apprenticeship Boost funding which is $500 per month. Make sure to check out the details of this and the new final-year Fees Free scheme below.
Thank you for your continued support, we will keep you updated on any future developments, and myself and the EarnLearn team look forward to working with you through what we hope will be a prosperous, successful 2025.
Read the full Trade Talk newsletter for our employers here.
Ngā mihi
Kaarin Gaukrodger
Executive Director
