t r a i n i n g
HOW ON-SITE, PRACTICAL TRAINING IS CHANGING THE GLAZIER APPRENTICESHIP GAME
The well-worn path of apprenticeship training is one that is embedded in the minds of the glass industry and glass apprentices alike. You set aside up to six weeks per year to go to a centralised training facility and hit the books, gaining theoretical knowledge that you can put into practice once you’ re back on-site.
But what if there was a better way?
THE TRAINING ALTERNATIVE
Instead of waving goodbye to your team of apprentices for multiple weeks in a year, sending them off to the nearest( yet often still far-flung) training centre, why not keep them at home? And instead of them studying textbooks and taking exams, why not give them practical, real-world knowledge?
It’ s a win-win: Your business gets a customtailored training course that is delivered by experienced industry professionals, and it’ s conducted in the comfort of your own premises. And the benefits don’ t stop there.
THE POSITIVES
Which would you deem more valuable to someone undertaking a glazier apprenticeship – more theoretical training or more practical training? While more standard apprenticeship coursework can have a heavy reliance on theoretical study, on-site training focuses far more on practicality.
On-site courses are tailored to the specific business at which they’ re held, focussing on the situations that your organisation will most often come across. This leads to the sort of training effectiveness that simply can’ t be delivered by a generic off-site course. Your apprentices will be versed in the specific knowledge that your business finds most useful, leading to greater productivity and increased profitability.
And where better to learn safe practices than on the site that you’ ll be working on, with the machinery you’ ll be working with? This sort of applicable, real-world safety training will minimise the likelihood of a future on-site accident, which could prove invaluable.
On-site training also contributes to the formation of a healthy learning culture within your business, with management providing direct input for course structure and material. Some old dogs may even pick up some new tricks!
A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CHOICE
The standard off-site training model can be exceedingly costly for a business. When you factor in the costs of training, wages for an off-site employee, travel and accommodation costs, an employer is left with quite a large bill on their hands.
Not only is on-site apprentice training arguably the most effective way to teach glazier apprentices, it can also prove to be the least costly. In addition, government funding initiatives, both state and federal, have been implemented with the aim to set up employers to better train the next generation of workers.
Various rebates and tax breaks focus on the delivery of glazier apprenticeship training, making the choice to train your employees even more obvious. With the on-site option, you can gain access to the maximum amount of funding available without losing your apprentices for weeks at a time. It’ s a win-win situation!
With on-site training you’ ll get the most appropriate tuition, keep your apprentices on-site, and save money, all at the same time.
WHY WAIT?
If your business continues to use the traditional training avenues for courses such as Certificate III and IV in Glass and Glazing, you may be missing out on costsavings, training effectiveness and all manner of efficiencies. And, if your competitors do choose the on-site option, you may soon find yourself falling behind.
Glass Skills Australia is here to help. With Mel Barr, our new Business Development Specialist, at the helm, GSA is better placed than ever to provide your business with the most convenient, relevant, and cost-effective glazier apprenticeship training available. Mel brings a wealth of knowledge to GSA from her 22 years at Viridian, and is excited to help your business find the best subsidised training solution possible.
As Paul Garrett of Stegbar noted,“[ GSA ] thoroughly deserves the highest accolades; the business provides professional, informative services which place them above the competition.”
If you’ d like to see what Glass Skills Australia can do for your business, contact us on 1800 886 269 or visit www. glassskills. com. au
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01 A Comparison of Glass Skills Australia training to traditional methods.
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