Welcome to the Apprenticeship Training Trust

The Apprenticeship Training Trust's Mission is:

"To provide opportunities for people to train and become successful tradespeople"

The Trust presently offers apprenticeships in the Plumbing & Gas-fitting; Drainlaying and Roofing industries. 

The Trust is a "group training organisation" and currently employs 300 apprentices.  Since it was formed in 1991 it has trained over 800 apprentices, many of whom have gone on to become registered tradespeople.  Some have become Craftsman Plumbers and Gasfitters, started their own businesses and now have apprentices themselves, also through the Trust.

The Trust employs the majority of the plumbing and gasfitting apprentices in Auckland.  It continues to expand here, as well as in Northland, the Waikato /Bay of Plenty areas and the South Island.     

Trust apprentices are employed by the Trust and seconded out to local "host" employers for whom they work on the job to gain practical skills and valuable work experience. 

Trust apprentices sign a PGDR ITO Training agreement which enables them to attend their block courses for practical training and skill and theory assessment.  These courses are run through polytechnics or private providers in major centres.  The ITO in conjunction with polytechnics, also provide and mark the distance learning of the apprentices.  The distance learning is compulsory and must be completed at each stage of training, before apprentices can attend their block course at any stage.

If apprentices are under the age of 22 years old on commencement, they will also be signed on as Modern apprentices, this means their progress is carefully and regularly monitored.  Where there is a diagnosed need, additional assistance will be available.

For Plumbing and Gasfitting, block courses are spread throughout the 4-year apprenticeship.  Trainees attend their first 3-weeks long, Stage 1 block course approximately 12 months after commencement.  Time will vary as it is dependent on sufficient numbers of trainees to form viable training groups.  During Stage 2, which takes 12 to 18 months, two separate block courses, each 2 weeks long, are held.  Likewise at Stage 3, the final two block course, again each 2 weeks long, are run.

Drainlaying and Roofing apprenticeships are spread over a period of 2 year.  More information on Roofing and Drainlaying can be found under these TABS.

Trust apprentices are paid throughout their apprenticeship, including the periods they are on annual leave, attending block courses and during other specialist training provided by the Trust.  

Each apprentice is issued with a complete set of Personal Protective Equipment, including overalls, safety boots and helmet and ear defenders. 

They are also provided with a Tool Account through which they can buy their tools and then pay for them by weekly deductions from their wages.   The Trust pays trainees a tooling allowance of 58 cents per working hour, which is not charged to the Host Employer.

Host employers benefit by having the support of Trust staff, and none of the administrative and others costs involved in actually employing the apprentice.  For example, the Trust:

• Advertises, interviews, selects and places each apprentice
• Arranges their tools and personal protective equipment
• Trains the apprentice in occupational Safety & Health, including the Sitesafe Passport
• Arranges for all block courses as well as arranging and paying for all other specialist training
• Pays the wages, holiday pay, ACC and PAYE, and sends out wage slips

The founders of the Trust are professional business people who originally identified the need for industry training, firstly to prevent a future shortage of skilled tradespeople, and secondly to ensure that the industry keeps abreast of technological advances.

The Trust is proud of its achievements to date, and committed to the future of the industry

"Providing opportunities for people to train and become successful tradespeople"