Shane JonesA construction firm and a scaffolding company, both based out of Otago, have received Provincial Growth Fund money to help bring through apprentices. Cook Brothers Construction, which has its head office in Dunedin, received $1million, and Brazier Scaffolding $400,000 to employ and train apprentices. It is part of a $12million package that has been dished out to five businesses to operate the Government’s Regional Apprenticeship Initiative. TradeUp received $8million to act as a third party to help smaller firms get involved with the apprenticeship programme. "They will ensure New Zealand has a pipeline of skilled workers to support regional economies in the future, help apprentices stay connected to employment and help regional communities and employers to thrive."

Source: Otago Daily Times July 29, 2020 16:30 UTC