Since the inception in September 2013, 11 339 Apprenticeship Incentive Grants and 2 839 Apprenticeship Completion Grants were issued to apprenticeships in the cook and baker trades. Income benefits delivered through the Employment Insurance programme and tax credits also support apprentices during their training. In New Zealand, government funding is available for employees who undertake programmes leading to a nationally recognised formal qualification under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority framework. However, such programmes do not respond to the needs of the industry or employees.