It's a smart move to take on an apprentice!
Skilled plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are in high demand. By taking on an apprentice, you can grow your team, pass on your expertise and set your business up for future success.
You focus on the trade. We’ll take care of the rest.
We manage employment admin, compliance and training coordination, with ongoing support for you and your apprentice throughout their journey. You get to focus on your business while we help your apprentice develop the skills to succeed.
Ready to find your next team member?
Masterlink has quality candidates screened and ready to take the next step. Already have someone in mind? We can screen your chosen candidate at no cost to you.
Why choose Masterlink?
✓ We recruit the best
Our robust recruitment process ensures quality apprentices for our host businesses.
We will:
- meet with you to gain an understanding of your business and your apprentice needs so we can find the best match and recommend vetted candidates
- test, screen, recruit and manage your apprentice—taking the hassle out of your hands
- stay in regular contact after sign-up to ensure everything is going well.
- assist if changes in your business mean you can no longer train an apprentice. We will work to place your apprentice with a new host—all we ask from you is 15 working days' notice.
✓ We manage the apprentice
Masterlink employs the apprentice, and you host them. We provide them with the starter tools and the PPE they need to start work. We manage the apprentice and handle all ACC, HR, payroll, and block course arrangements for you. Leaving you to focus on your business!
✓ We support you and your apprentice
Our Regional Managers schedule regular meetings with hosts and apprentices. This ensures everything is going well and studies are on track. We provide help as required. Our team is a phone call or an email away!
✓ We keep you up to date
Our hosts and apprentices get the latest information affecting our industry. This includes Health & Safety changes, employer or apprenticeship funding and any other news. We communicate via text, email, our website, and a monthly e-newsletter called The Link.
✓ We provide exceptional value
You are only charged for the hours the apprentice works for you. On average, that's 42 weeks per year, and it’s tax deductible.
We also pay:
- apprentice wages when they are on block course, stat holidays, annual leave & sick leave
- ITO fees for the full apprenticeship
- First Aid and Site Safe training
- full pre-employment medical exam and drug test, plus Tetanus and Hep A&B inoculations
- travel to and from block courses plus accommodation when necessary, and
- Master Plumbers Apprentice Membership for each of our apprentices.
We provide PPE and a starter tool kit for each new apprentice, and an annual allowance for boots after that.
We boost all our apprentices' skills with an excellent range of exclusive Masterlink Training courses - free of charge!
Employer Funding
It can be confusing trying to work out if your business and/or your apprentice are eligible for funding. And then there's the paperwork.
Leave it to Masterlink! Our experienced staff can tell you what’s available, get your application in, and pass the funding on to you.
Apprenticeship Boost
From 1 January 2025, the Apprenticeship Boost is available for Plumbing, Drainlaying and Gasfitting apprentices for their first 12 months of training only. The Boost rate remains $500 plus GST per month.
The Government introduced Apprenticeship Boost funding in 2020. It helps employers pay for new and existing apprentices in their first year of training.
Find out more Apprenticeship Boost - Work and Income
We're here to help!
Start the conversation about taking on a Masterlink apprentice by completing our online host enquiry form or by reaching out to the Masterlink Team