Increase in electrical apprenticeship training

ETITO today announced an unprecedented increase in demand for access to electrical apprenticeship training in 2005.

2004 saw a 32% increase in the demand for new apprenticeships. Today, we are receiving applications for electrical apprenticeships at a rate that indicates that we may have insufficient places available to meet what appears to be a further increase in demand.

ETITO anticipated this funding shortfall in 2004 and made efforts with government to secure increased funding to meet the industry’s need for apprentices. While additional funding was secured from government and an increased contribution collected from industry, it now appears to be inadequate to address the problem beyond early 2005.

‘Our forecasts indicate that demand for electrical apprenticeships will continue to climb in the foreseeable future’ said Marilyn Brady, ETITO Chief Executive. ‘We expect pressures on our funding to continue into the future.’

Consequently, ETITO is currently exploring all avenues available to us to secure timely training places for all New Zealanders seeking access to an electrical apprenticeship. There are already good indications that a short-term solution may be available.

In the meantime, we are encouraging electrical contracting companies wishing to engage apprentices to complete a training application and forward it to us in the normal manner.

ETITO is the national standards-setting body for eleven New Zealand industry sectors. A not-forprofit organisation, ETITO operates on behalf of its industries and for its industries to: determine future skill needs; develop national competence standards, qualification programmes and supporting implementation and assessment resources; design and manage national quality assurance mechanisms for assessment and; direct government funding to support industry training.

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