With a skills shortage in Tasmania, and indeed across our country, more employers are looking for skilled workers. Apprentices also have a low completion rate when undertaken directly with employers.

One way to achieve better outcomes is for Australian apprentices to undergo training under GTOs, or Group Training Organisations. These workers are then hired out either on a short-term or long-term basis, with a variety of businesses across several industries. 

Group Training Organisation

GTOs take on responsibilities on the administrative and contractual side that would otherwise be the responsibility of employers. The GTO also recruits the trainee or apprentice and support all sides (host employer, trainee and apprentice) through training and work opportunities.

Benefits for the people a GTO employs include, but are not limited to:

Employment - We’re focused on growing people for the industry that takes their interest. Not all GTO’s are the same as KEEN, but we’re focused on keeping our trainees and apprentices in full time, meaningful employment with full support to achieve their certificates. Most importantly, we like to see our employees join our capable, flexible and skilled workforce, or take up permanent roles with the employers they’ve got to know through their apprenticeship.

Experience - Given the wide network GTOs have, trainees and apprentices are able to get experience in more than one industry. This means that they get to learn more about more than one business as well as more than one management style and business culture.

Substitution - Sometimes, placements with host employers don't pan out; other times, work can no longer be offered. Whichever the case may be, the GTO will take care of finding another host employee for the apprentice or trainee involved. The same applies to instances when a host employer is unable to offer the necessary work flexibility or on-the-job training for a traineeship or apprenticeship.

Support - This manifests in two specific ways, the first one being the way GTOs monitor training both on-the-job and off-the-job. Trainees and apprentices can rest assured that they receive training relevant to their needs and of high quality in a safe environment. 

Host employers also gain benefits from working with a GTO. This largely involves convenience in terms of businesses being able to take on trainees and apprentices. The acquisition of trainees and apprentices involves interviewing and screening possible candidates. 

Staffing levels will also be levelled out through working with a GTO because trainees and apprentices can easily be moved to another host employer with little to no issue.

It helps them be more flexible, especially during peak seasons and particularly tough workloads. If there’s a trainee or apprentice that needs replacement due to underperformance, they will be replaced quite easily through the GTO. This takes the burden off of the employer.

Conclusion

The Group Training Organisation or GTO helps trainees and apprentices to transition into the workforce smoothly. We help people get helpful training and apprenticeships that may lead them to gainful, permanent employment down the line. We also work closely with host employers who also benefit from these trainees and apprentices working in their company. Benefits for trainees and apprentices include support, exposure to multiple businesses across several industries and possible employment opportunities down the line.

Looking to work with a company that genuinely cares for the success of their workforce? Contact us at KEEN (Key Employment and Education Network)! We’re an industry-led organisation focused on growing people, with industry, for industry.