Apprentice sector embraces $252 million boost

The NSW Government announcement to inject an unprecedented $252 million to deliver over 1,300 additional apprentices and trainees has been embraced by the sector. Leading apprenticeship organisation WPC Group believes this will form a pivotal moment for the industry currently combating significant skills shortage. 

In a bid to employ a skilled labour force within councils, expelling the reliance on contractors, the investment seeks to train the state’s next generation. The funding seeks to boost the many services and facilities communities use every day.

Andrew Sezonov, Group General Manager said, “This momentous investment will have a lasting impact on our communities. We commend the NSW Government for embarking on this crucial step forward. This investment not only builds a future workforce but also supports local economies, especially in regional areas where training opportunities are limited.”

The announcement comes as WPC Group expands their presence in Western Sydney in pursuit to directly address the skills shortage, opening a new recruitment hub in Liverpool. 

Since being established in 1984, WPC Group has been transforming the lives of young people in NSW by engaging them in further education and meaningful careers. They provide a clear pathway to a trade qualification and offer over 200 partner employers a cost-effective workforce development strategy, delivering youth employment retention rates significantly higher than for-profit labour hire providers. 

“Wrap around support and guidance from field-based mentors are critical and provide the assistance needed to ensure young people not only gain a job, but more importantly complete their training,” said Lucy O’Reilly, General Manager of WPC Group.

WPC Group has been changing the lives of young Australians by engaging them in further education and meaningful careers while championing inclusivity. Currently, 43% of apprentices and trainees are from cohorts with barriers to employment – including people with a disability, women in non-traditional trades, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and adult apprenticeship seekers. In addition, the group employs three times more female apprentice technicians than the national industry average.

“The enduring resilience of our skills formation model is a testament to the clear social and economic benefits group training provides to the community,” Sezonov adds. 

“Our approach has delivered results for over four decades and we, with our apprentices and employer partners, will keep delivering industry-leading programs to meet the challenges of a changing workforce.”