How to Prepare for New Apprentices

Have you considered getting new apprentices in building and construction? Hiring a worker during their apprenticeship can have huge benefits. In this article, we show you how to prepare for you apprentices to get a positive experience, and to train up loyal workers who will stay with you for a long time.

Why hire an apprentice?

Getting new apprentices has many advantages. Not only do you get new, enthusiastic employees but you can also get government benefits. You can hire apprentices full-time, part-time or while they are still studying.

How to get an apprentice?

If you haven’t been hooked up with apprentices yet, you can contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network) provider. They can help you find someone to do their apprenticeship with you. They give you heaps of advice and tips while you train them up and keep them onboard.

An Apprentice Network provider also helps you:

• find a registered training organisation (like BAA) for your apprentice
• organise training for your apprentice
• create a contract for you and your apprentice to sign
• explain your eligibility for government incentives
• support your apprentice during their time with you.

Incentives

The government likes it when businesses hire new apprentices because they contribute to a healthy economy. For this reason, the government offers some apprentice incentives, to encourage businesses to hire new apprentices. An incentive is financial assistance from the government to help you hire and train new apprentices.

Also, be aware that the rules about incentives are going to change next year. From July 2020, the government will introduce a new program called the Incentives for Australian Apprenticeships (IAA). The new program should be better and easier to navigate than the current one.

Types of incentives

The government offers a number of different incentives for apprentices, including:

• Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy
• Additional Identified Skills Shortage Payment
• Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
• Assistance for Australian Apprentices with disability

See apprentice incentives to check to see if you are eligible for these incentives. You may also have a waiting period, and the incentive could have a time limit.

How much do I pay my apprentices?

The wages you set for your worker during their apprenticeship will depend on a few factors:

• apprentice’s age
• qualification type
• how much training they’ve had
• sector and job type

How to prepare for an apprentice

Introductions

Get started by introducing your new apprentices to your other employees. This will help communication within your team and familiarise the new apprentice with the people working in building and construction.

Explain everyone’s roles and their duties. Your apprentice will need to know who to approach in which situation.

You might like to organise some after-work drinks on a Friday to help break the ice and encourage everyone to get to know each other

Lay the ground rules

Your apprentices might be starting their very first job, ever. For this reason, they don’t understand what it’s like to be in a work environment in building and construction. Everything is totally new for them.

Explain to your apprentice the basic ground rules of their employment. One way to do this is by going through the contract with your apprentice so they understand all the terms of their employment.

Explain the following to your new apprentice:

• Wages: when they will receive payment and how much
• Leave: when they can take personal and sick leave, how to notify you
• Employment policies: what times your apprentice is expected to be on the clock, their responsibilities
• Entitlements: for example, break times and lengths

Set expectations

Next, thoroughly explain each task, the standard of work you expect, and timeframes for delivery. The better your apprentice understands what’s expected of them, the better they will perform. This will make the experience more positive for everyone involved.

Communicate

Keep track of your new apprentice’s progress. Are they on track with their training plan? Touch base with them over a coffee to see how they are getting along.

By keeping communications open with your new apprentice, you’ll find out what they need more help and training with.

Partner with BAA

As a registered training provider, Builders Academy Australia trains up new apprentices. Our teachers are qualified builders who train up the future generation of builders in Australia.

Your apprentice will study with us while working with you. By partnering with us, we put your apprentice through training such as:

• CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry.
• RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations

BAA is well known for our student success rate. We take innovative approaches to teaching in an industry that is constantly changing. We always focus on giving apprentices the skills they need to address future skills shortages.

Contact our team at 1300 LEGEND (1300 534 363) or request a callback and we will get back to you with all the information you need.