For 35 years, ATT has helped businesses develop apprentices and build the next generation of tradies. A lot has changed in that time.
Talk to almost any electrical contractor and you’ll hear a familiar story. Workloads go up and down. Finding the right person takes time. Some businesses are ready to take on an apprentice. Others already have one and want support to help keep them on track. Sometimes the challenge is simply getting extra hands on-site to get through a busy period.
What hasn’t changed is the need for good people.
Good tradies don’t just happen.
For many employers, ATT is best known for its Group Apprenticeship Scheme. It’s the model that has helped thousands of apprentices start their careers while giving businesses the confidence to grow. ATT employs the apprentice, takes care of the administration and provides ongoing support, while the employer focuses on training them on the job.
That remains a big part of what ATT does.
But over the years, employers have told ATT they need options.
Not every business wants the same level of support. Not every business is facing the same challenge.
Some want to employ an apprentice directly but still have support available throughout the training journey. Others need extra help on site before they’re ready to commit to taking on another apprentice. Some simply want help finding the right apprentice in the first place.
That’s why ATT has expanded the ways it can help.
Alongside Group Apprenticeships, employers can now access Managed Apprenticeships, where ATT supports both the apprentice and employer throughout training while the business remains the legal employer. Casual Trade Assistants give businesses access to pre-trade trained people who can step in when workloads increase. Apprentice Recruitment helps employers find and hire apprentices directly, drawing on ATT’s experience supporting apprentices and understanding what employers look for in a great candidate.
It’s not about replacing what ATT has always done. It’s about recognising that different businesses need different things.
One Auckland electrical contractor saw that firsthand. Looking for extra support on a major project, they brought on three Casual Trade Assistants through ATT. Before long, all three had been offered electrical apprenticeships. What started as a way to get more help on site became a long-term investment in the future of the business.
That’s the reality for many employers.
The challenge isn’t always finding an apprentice. Sometimes it’s finding the right apprentice. Sometimes it’s getting support for the apprentice you already have. Sometimes it’s having enough people on site to get through a busy period without taking on unnecessary risk.
After working alongside apprentices and employers for 35 years, ATT has learned there is no single path that suits every business.
Some employers want ATT to employ the apprentice. Some want to employ them directly. Some need support for a few weeks. Others are planning years ahead.
The important thing is having options.
While the ways ATT supports employers have grown, the reason it exists hasn’t changed. It’s still about helping businesses find, develop and support good people. It’s still about helping apprentices build successful careers. And it’s still about backing the industries that keep New Zealand moving.
Because after 35 years, ATT knows one thing for certain.
Good tradies don’t just happen.
Need people? We’ve got options.
Find the one that fits at att.org.nz.
info@att.org.nz | 0800 187 878
