6. Question No. 6—EducationMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 6—Education6. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What measures is the Government putting in place to help employers to keep apprentices earning and learning?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Apprentices are a significant investment for firms particularly in the early years of their training and they can be the first to be laid off when companies find that they have to tighten their belts. That's why today I announced that the Government will be providing businesses with up to $16000 to help pay the cost of each apprentice for their first two years. Through the Apprenticeship Boost up to an estimated 18000 employers will be able to apply for funding of up to $12000 per apprentice for their first 12 months of training and up to $6000 per apprentice for their second 12 months of training. The Apprenticeship Boost funding will run from August this year until April 2022. Marja Lubeck: Why is it important for this assistance to be provided to employers now? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: This investment is key to helping businesses keep people on and give them confidence when they're making decisions about taking on new apprentices. This will be essential as we roll out and fast track infrastructure projects. Without support of this kind after the global financial crisis apprentices were let go and when the economy picked up New Zealand struggled with huge skills shortages and had to pay more to find skilled workers from overseas. As a result there were 40000 fewer people in industry training between 2009 and 2017. Marja Lubeck: How is Apprenticeship Boost linked to other assistance that this Government is providing? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Apprenticeship Boost is a cornerstone of a wider Government programme to keep apprentices in jobs and to support employers to invest in new ones as we rebuild the economy from the impact of COVID-19. Employers of apprentices will also have targeted financial support available through three related schemes depending on their circumstances which includes a beefed-up version of Mana in Mahi which was announced by the Minister of Employment this morning. More broadly we've also removed the cost for learners and made apprentices and other vocational training in targeted areas fees-free for the next 2½ years. Marja Lubeck: What response has he seen to Apprenticeship Boost? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There's been very positive comment. I'm advised that Whangārei's Culham Engineering one of the country's larger employers of young mechanical engineers is delighted with the new scheme saying this is a big help. I'm really grateful the Government has come to the party for this not just for our business but for the kids we employ." Warwick Quinn of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation has said "We've got a thousand people in the background looking to sign up waiting for today's confirmation of the Apprenticeship Boost initiative. This wasn't on our radar at all three weeks ago." and Business New Zealand has said that Apprenticeship Boost is good for business and "recognises this is not just course fees but also the wage costs of having staff that need investment and skills to contribute to business productivity.""