The Queensland Government has introduced a range of helpful resources to assist small businesses when employing apprentices and trainees.

Understanding that it can be tricky for small businesses with no HR departments to be across the timelines and requirements, the Queensland Government has developed a range of easy-to-follow resources to help business owners who are juggling the obligations of their training contracts.

New tools being introduced include a personalised and timely SMS system to keep employers updated on their obligations and training milestones, short tutorial videos that cover the benefits and issues employers can face, and a range of helpful hints, facts, resources, and links to useful information available on the Business Queensland website.

Through these measures, the Queensland Government hopes to support more businesses sign up more apprentices and trainees.

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said easy-to-follow resources have been developed to make the apprenticeship and traineeship processes as simple as possible.

“Each year small businesses and other operations across the state work through the steps to recruit and train the next generation of skilled workers,” said Minister Farmer.

“We need to ensure these training pathways continue to develop the skilled workforce the state needs, which is why we made investing in skills a key focus in our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan and it’s why we are spending more than $1 billion on training and skills.”

The Queensland Government also provides a range of support and funding including free apprenticeships for under 25s, travel and accommodation subsidies, insurance discounts and payroll tax exemptions.

In fact, in the year to May 2021, there were over 40,000 apprenticeship and traineeship commencements, an astonishing 47.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

“Supporting their employers will help to improve the retention and completion rate so that Queensland can call on more skilled workers,” continued Minister Farmer.

“Ensuring our skilled workforce meets returning and new demand, without skills shortages limiting opportunities, is vital.”

For more information, visit www.business.qld.gov.au/employing-apprentices or call 1300 654 687.

Source: Queensland Government

27 July 2021