What is involved in training?

• On the job:

  Employers receive information to help them prepare their apprentice for assessment of their practical skills. Butchery apprenticeships are no longer measured as 8000 hours served on the job. Apprenticeships are now known as "competency-based". This means that once an apprentice meets the standard set for a task they are awarded a number of units. Once they have achieved all the units required for the National Certificate, they are qualified as a retail butcher.
• The length of time that is required to complete an apprenticeship is approximately 3 - 4 years.

• Off the job:

  Block courses are held at the meat schools of Manukau Institute of Technology, Wellington Institute of Technology, and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
• Each block course runs for two weeks and every apprentice is required to attend once every year of their apprenticeship. During the block course the employer releases the apprentice from work on full pay so that they may attend. This time is not to be taken as annual holidays.
• Apprentices registered with Skills4Work undertake assessments on the theoretical components of the qualification by a combination of distance learning, and in two day regional workshops, held twice a year.
• After the course the employer receives a written report from the training provider reviewing their apprentice's performance.