Recession? What recession? With the help of Napier's Work and Income, one of Napier's premier plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses is taking staff on while many others are forced to lay theirs off. Napier's Hagen and Owen Plumbers have employed two  apprentices over the past two years through the help of Work and Income.

Flexi-Wage provides employers with a subsidy towards the cost of wages and training for a person of any age, receiving a benefit and who have low or no skills or work experience.

Moses Riley and Myles Owen were taken on by Hagen and Owen twelve months ago. Both men's wages were subsidised by WINZ over the first six months of their apprenticeships. The company founders and managing directors Shaun Owen and Tim Hagen have always tried to take on an apprentice every two years to keep their team well skilled but since the building industry downturn, thought they would have to rethink that strategy - until WINZ contacted them.. WINZ sponsored some of the pair's set-up gear including uniforms and tools and gave Shaun and Tim the confidence to employ new staff when they otherwise wouldn't have.

Apprenticeships in the building industry are four years long. Once a new employee is taken on, their employer is financially committed to cover all training costs including block courses every 16 weeks. With an increased level of paperwork and trade school exams to complete, Shaun Owen's apprentices need to be 'up to speed' on and off each job. Shaun says both Myles and Moses (who had no industry experience when they started), are proving to be capable hands on plumbers.

If you have any questions about the Flexi-Wage subsidy contact:

Employer Line: 0800 778 008.