Leverage the apprenticeship boost to increase your capabilities

If you’re considering training for your landscaping team, there’s never been a better time. With the Apprenticeship Boost continuing in 2026, enrolling new or existing staff into a Primary ITO Landscaping Apprenticeship is an opportunity not to be missed

Employers taking on a new apprentice, or looking to enrol existing team members, may be eligible for $500 a month, per apprentice, through the Apprenticeship Boost. This payment is made directly to employers to help retain and train apprentices and is available for employers of first-year apprentices in targeted sectors experiencing skills shortages, such as landscaping.

Eligible employers can receive up to $6,000 a year per apprentice (plus GST if registered). With Primary ITO full apprenticeship fees from $1,734.00 (plus GST), most businesses will recover the full cost of enrolment and still have more than $4,000 available to invest in tools, equipment, training resources, or other on-the-job support.

Commenting on the Apprenticeship Boost, Primary ITO Landscaping Sector Manager Mark Orr said: “As a former business owner, I understand the pressures landscaping companies face and how crucial it is to have staff who are confident, capable and technically skilled.

“Primary ITO apprenticeships give learners the chance to build those skills in real-world conditions, and for employers, that translates directly into greater productivity, efficiency, and consistency on site.”

“Right now, businesses are trying to maintain output, while also growing their teams’ capability, and that’s not an easy balance. The Apprenticeship Boost helps bridge that gap by reducing the financial barrier to taking on or upskilling apprentices. We’re seeing strong uptake from employers who want to invest in their people but need support to do it sustainably. When apprentices are trained well, it lifts the standard of work across the industry and strengthens the future of landscaping in New Zealand.”

Full details on the Apprenticeship Boost can be found on the Work and Income website.

With the financial support of the Apprenticeship Boost, enrolling your team in a Primary ITO apprenticeship is easier than ever, and it gives them the skills to thrive in every aspect of landscaping.

Building a solid foundation

Primary ITO’s New Zealand Apprenticeship in Landscape Construction is ideal for those new

to the industry, who want to build a career in landscaping. Combining Level 3 and Level 4, the apprenticeship equips team members with practical skills, technical knowledge and leadership abilities, such as:

• Practical on-site skills: Apprentices gain hands-on experience in constructing timber features, laying a range of hard surfaces, planting and laying turf, installing drainage systems, and safely operating small machinery.

  
  

• Technical knowledge: They learn to interpret landscape plans, understand materials and construction methods, and apply problem-solving skills to real-world site challenges.

  
  

• Supervision and leadership: Apprentices develop the ability to plan and programme site workflows, provide guidance to others, and oversee quality and safety on projects.

• Optional topics: Apprentices can also specialise in areas such as landscape lighting, irrigation systems, brick or block work, metal and rock features.

Experienced landscaper Brad Murphy, who founded Auckland-based Murphy Landscapes in 2019 after completing his own Primary ITO apprenticeship, said work-based training is vital in an industry as broad as landscaping.

“It’s so important that young people are getting as much training as they can, especially as landscaping is so broad. The theory is so important and the offsite training is really valuable too,” he said.

Since 2019, Brad has focused on growing the business and has had several staff undertake training with Primary ITO.

He emphasises the importance of having a skilled team.

“It’s everything, really. We need the right people in the right place to deliver our product. Having skilled staff to deliver high-quality products efficiently helps us to compete in the market. We pride ourselves on having skilled staff on site, and this creates a layering effect for the newer apprentices coming through.”

On-the-job training through Primary ITO is the best way to upskill your team, keeping them safe, confident and at the top of their game, while ensuring they remain a valuable asset to your business. To explore training options for your team, visit: www.primaryito.ac.nz/landscaping or call 0800 208020.

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Article supplied by Primary ITO.