9 October 2026
APPRENTICE AND TRAINEE HAND BACKS
As a Group Training Organisation (GTO), GTNT Group employs Apprentices and Trainees as their legal employer and places them with a host business for on-the-job training. GTNT Group manage all employment responsibilities including payroll, compliance, training coordination with Registered Training Organisations (RTO) and entitlements; giving businesses flexibility while ensuring apprentices and trainees receive high-quality training and ongoing support.
The benefits a GTO provides to a host business is flexibility and the ability to respond to the everchanging external environment. GTO’s allow an apprentice to be handed back when business needs, contracts, workloads or staffing requirements change. This arrangement helps host businesses manage their workforce while ensuring apprentices can continue their training and employment journey with support from GTO services. GTO’s are well versed in hand backs as these business challenges are universal across many industries like mining or trades.
GTNT Group and GEMCO have a longstanding relationship with over ten years of collaborating to support Territorians in vocational education and training pathways. Thirteen apprentices and trainees were handed back to GTNT Group on the 6/10/26. All thirteen apprentices and trainees are currently being supported through this transition with new host businesses being sought or transitions to alternative training being explored. GEMCO will continue to host one GTNT Group apprentice and trainee until they complete their respective qualifications.
GEMCO’s current operating environment has resulted in less capacity to support and administer an apprenticeship/traineeship host-employer relationship. When experiencing workforce challenges such as these, utilising a GTO provides agility, responsiveness to both internal and external environments. GEMCO are not alone in these challenges; many businesses rely on long term contracts and are only able to resource their business appropriately when they are able to forecast future projects. GTNT Group are diligently working to ensure minimal impact to all affected Apprentice and Trainees. GTNT Group working in collaboration with the Northern Territory’s Apprentice Connect Provider, Apprenticeships NT, Northern Territory Government and Australian Government to ensure a smooth transition for each apprentice and trainee into ongoing employment. We have appreciated the ongoing support from GEMCO and are continuing to collaborate with the GEMCO team to assist the apprentices and trainees.
If there are any business who can provide hosting opportunities or have any workforce needs that could help our apprentices, please reach out to recruitment@gtntgroup.com.au
- GTNT Group Management
