VERTO Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, today celebrated the start of National Skills Week, which runs from 25 August to 31 August 2014.
Mr Maxwell said VERTO, as both a Registered Training Organisation and provider of Australian Apprenticeships Centre services, supported any initiative that highlighted the importance of the skills and training sector.
"National Skills Week is an important initiative that showcases the opportunities and career pathways available via the vocational education and training sector.
"It's important that more people know what skills and training opportunities are available to them in the local communities in which they live," Mr Maxwell said.
Mr Maxwell said recent VERTO data showed the industry was increasingly an important part of the educational sector more broadly.
"In the Sydney region, we saw a 24 per cent increase in apprentice and trainee registrations in 2013-2014 compared to 2012-2013.
"In the Western/New England region (which includes Bathurst, Condobolin, Cowra, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth, Young, Wagga Wagga, West Wyalong and surrounds), we saw 45 per cent more skill shortage trades register from January to June 2014 compared with the six months prior.
"We also saw a 19 per cent increase in the successful completion of apprenticeships in 2013-2014 compared to 2012-2013.
"In the Hunter and North Coast regions combined (which includes Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Tweed Heads and surrounds), we saw a 22 per cent increase in skill shortage apprenticeships for January to June 2014, compared with the six months prior.
"Five per cent more apprentices successfully completed their apprenticeships in 2013-2104 compared to 2012-2013 in these combined regions also," Mr Maxwell said.
Mr Maxwell also said VERTO's Registered Training Organisation had experienced some positive results.
"Our overall training enrolments were up 14 per cent in 2013-2014 when compared with 2012-2013.
"Whilst the market is becoming increasingly competitive, and business confidence has fluctuated recently, our results show there is still a hunger in the community for local skills and training providers.
"We look forward to continuing to partner with businesses and individuals across rural, regional and metropolitan New South Wales to meet their training and vocational education needs," Mr Maxwell said.
