All businesses rely on a skilled and motivated workforce to help them succeed and grow. More companies than ever before are using vocational education and training (VET) to develop the skilled and dynamic workforce they need to ensure their sustainability into the future.

VET isn’t just about taking on new employees, apprentices or trainees. It can also be used to develop the skills of your existing employees.

VET is the best way of developing the workforce you need to meet future demands.

• VET allows your business to develop its next generation of employees.
• It enables your existing employees to upskill and maintain their skills and capability to stay current in a competitive job market.
• Given the current skills shortage, businesses have to train their own anyway - so why not get in now and 'grow your own'.

There are 2 main ways employers can benefit from VET:

• taking on apprentices and trainees
• upskilling staff.

Taking on an apprentice or trainee

Your business can benefit from employing an apprentice or trainee.

With the flexibility of courses available, a pool of eager candidates, full control over who you employ and the skills and knowledge they acquire, you can tailor your workforce to suit your business needs.

Investing in an apprentice or trainee and offering them the opportunity to nurture their career with your company means you not only attract new staff but are likely to retain them if you provide ongoing opportunities for continuous improvement and upskilling.

An apprentice or trainee can bring a new and fresh perspective to your business, give unique and innovative ideas to your organisation’s approach and contribute solutions to business challenges.

Taking on an apprentice or trainee ensures you receive access to the latest knowledge and skills in your industry and apply immediately. Over time, you can develop a pipeline of skilled workers to increase productivity and fill critical/key roles.

For more information about taking on an apprentice or trainee, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Upskilling staff

VET is a fast and efficient way of developing your existing workforce.

It will provide your employees with nationally accredited professional development opportunities and keep your business up-to-date with the latest skills and innovations.

VET can really make a difference to your workplace and business capacity:

• apprentices will bring new skills to your business
• VET can be used as a part of your staff development programs
• VET allows you to upskill your valued employees who know your business.

You can get started by:

• Contact your local public training provider Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute or private training provider to discuss upskilling opportunities.
• To see who is delivering training and which registered training organisations are funded search the NT Apprenticeships and Traineeships Database, on the Northern Territory Government website. You can also search the Australian Government’s Your Career website to find VET courses and training providers.
• If you want to hire an apprentice, and find out which apprenticeships are funded and who provides it, go to Australian Apprenticeships website.
• Additional and comprehensive information on qualifications is available on the national training register for VET, go to the training.gov.au website.
  • Learn about registered training organisations that are approved to deliver nationally recognised qualifications.
  • Search by qualifications and organisations that deliver the training and filter by Northern Territory.
  • You can also find nationally recognised training such as training packages, qualifications, units of competency, skill sets and accredited courses.

Industry Skills Advisory Council Northern Territory (ISACNT) works with industry, enterprises, and government and training providers to improve training arrangements for all industries across the Northern Territory. ISACNT can help you navigate the training system and pursue a highly skilled workforce.

Find out more on the Industry Skills Advisory Council Northern Territory website.