Issue 1 - December 2009

BGT eNews

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Thank you for your support for the past year and we look forward to working together in 2010. All of the BGT Staff wish you a safe and happy Christmas and a successful New Year. We will be closed for the Christmas break from Thursday 24th December at 12pm, returning Monday 4th January 2010.

Between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010, businesses who take on a young person aged 19 years and under into a traditional trade will be eligible for a $3,350 bonus during the first year of the apprenticeship.
Employers who receive the bonus will still also be eligible to receive other incentive payments under the Apprentice incentive program.
There are only 21,000 opportunities for businesses to claim the bonus available nation wide and the bonus will be available until either that number is reached or 28 February, 2010.
In partnership, BGT and VECCI Apprenticeship Services are working together to ensure the local businesses do not miss out on this opportunity.
We can supply you with excellent candidates and assist you with all of your apprenticeship queries.
Both BGT and VECCI Apprenticeship Services play an important role in working with apprentices to ensure that they complete their qualification. They provide structured support for both the Apprentice and business throughout the journey.

More information and contact details visit the BGT website.

In collaboration with local Secondary Schools, BGT have developed an “Industry Learning Program” that will provide career pathways for students to participate in a School based apprenticeship. This will provide a learning environment where the students identified will be given the opportunity to learn when engaged in a real world project.

The Industry Learning Program would provide businesses an opportunity to engage with the local youth and play a part in their success in education. Local business involvement is key to the success of the program providing an alternative to leaving school for some of the participants.

Students would complete two days each week in your business. They would be allocated an onsite mentor as well as receiving on the job supervision, feedback and support from a BGT Field Officer assigned to each student.

If you can provide a student some experience or a School Based Apprenticeship please contact us or email michael@bgt.org.au

A recent paper has been written about what we (NCVER) know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them.
According to the research there is considerable evidence that the downturn has hit apprenticeships, although there appears to be a lesser effect on traineeships.

• In terms of what matters, we (NCVER) argue that it is commencements rather than completions of apprenticeships and traineeships that need attention.

• Policies need to distinguish between apprentices and trainees and take account of the very different circumstances that apply at the occupation level.

• It is important in the debate to remember the genesis of traineeships—the high levels of unemployment in the 1980s. They were primarily seen as a way of reducing unemployment, rather than a skilling strategy. This may be particularly pertinent to disadvantaged groups for which traineeships may be especially important.

For more information on the Apprenticeships and traineeships in the downturn click here.

Tom Karmel
NCVER

* The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is a not-for-profit company owned by the federal, state and territory ministers responsible for training.

According to our web poll 52% of Ballarat Businesses currently employ apprentices or trainees.

BGT works with around 100 local Host organisations providing apprentices and trainees for their businesses.

Did you know you can register your business details on the BGT website for some more free advertising – no strings attached! Click here

The Saver Plus program is starting again in January so stay tuned for more information…

Would you like a free ipod shuffle for Christmas? The first three people to email me will receive one delivered to them complements of BGT. Please include your name, company, phone number and address details in your message! Email me now!

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