Steps to employ an apprentice or trainee

There are many benefits to having an apprentice or trainee but there can also be a lot to think about when you are busy running a business.

Here are 5 simple steps to help give you a broader understanding of what is involved in employing an apprentice or trainee.

Step 1: Understand your commitment

Firstly, weigh up the pros and cons to decide if taking on an apprentice or trainee is the right step for your business.

Make sure you fully understand your obligations as an employer and consider both the costs involved and what financial incentives may be available to you.

Step 2: Recruitment

Finding the right person is crucial. Someone that fits your business culture is critical to building a strong working relationship. They should be hard-working, dedicated, and willing and able to learn.

You can look for your new apprentice or trainee through your traditional recruitment practices or look for assistance through an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, registered training organisation, group training organisation, your local high school, or they may even be an existing employee.

Step 3: Commencement

Once you've found the right person, you’ll need to choose training partners, sign contracts, complete an induction, and start the person with a probationary period.

Step 4: Managing

Once your apprentice or trainee is all signed up, you then must meet your obligations to training, supervision and reporting.

This includes providing onsite training, as well as allowing them time to attend offsite training with their supervising registered training organisation.

It's important to find suitable work and provide supervision to help your apprentice or trainee reach their full potential.

You will need to report any notifiable events, such as training delays or changes to your business, and update the training contract if required, such as transfers or extensions. You may also have to work to resolve any issues with your apprentice, trainee or partner organisation, and ensure their training is progressing at the right pace.

Step 5: Completion

This is the most rewarding part. Once your apprentice or trainee has successfully achieved all the competencies in their training plan, you can contact your supervising registered training organisation and they will begin the completion process.

To get started, or for more information on each of these steps, visit our website at www.business.qld.gov.au.

Supporting Queensland small businesses.

Having a new apprentice or trainee start in your workplace is an exciting time for everyone.

There are a number of things that you can do to prepare for their arrival, so that they feel welcome and ready to start their new career.

Here, we will give you some tips for supervising your new apprentice or trainee, as well as what you need to include in their induction.

As this may be their first job, or they could be starting out in a new industry, properly supervising your apprentice or trainee right from the first day will lead to a safer workplace and more productive worker.

Remember that workplace supervision is not only obligatory, it's also the best way to ensure they successfully complete their apprenticeship or traineeship.

Before your apprentice or trainee starts, you will need to consider who will be supervising them in the workplace.

So what makes a good supervisor?

Well firstly, they should be someone who is appropriately qualified to supervise at the right level and is properly designated to train the apprentice or trainee. They also need to be employed in the same workplace with equal or similar working hours to your apprentice or trainee.

The supervisor you choose should also make the apprentice or trainee feel supported and set clear expectations. They will need to not only deliver high quality training and mentoring, but also build rapport and demonstrate understanding.

Ensuring your apprentice or trainee is properly supervised will benefit your business in countless ways, creating a more productive workplace with more employees who can work independently, on a broader range of tasks, and at a higher level of quality and output.

It's all about starting off on the right foot, and helping you and your business grow.

The first thing you and your apprentice or trainee should do is complete a thorough and comprehensive induction.

This will not only help you get the most from your apprentice or trainee, but it's also the best way to ensure they start their new career in the safest, most well-informed way possible.

The apprentice or trainee's induction must be carried out during their probationary period by their workplace supervisor and your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (Provider). So what needs to be covered in a proper induction?

Well, here's a handy checklist of what should always be included as your apprentice or trainee is inducted into your workplace:

• an overview of the business
• a tour of the workplace and introductions to other employees
• an explanation of your apprentice or trainee's role and responsibilities
• expectations of all parties – employer, supervisor, apprentice or trainee, Provider, and the supervising registered training organisation delivering the training
• an explanation of working conditions including wages, working hours, start and finish times, dress code, breaks, leave and other entitlements
• workplace health and safety protocols, including fire and evacuation procedures
• everyone's responsibilities and obligations under the training contract
• administrative procedures
• who and where to go to if there's a problem.

Covering every one of these points properly will ensure your apprentice or trainee is fully prepared for the job ahead.

Remember, making your new employee feel welcome and part of the team is the first step in building a positive and productive work environment.

Visit our website to find out more at www.business.qld.gov.au.

Supporting Queensland small businesses.