Even though apprenticeships suffered as a whole during the recession, particularly within the construction sector, there are 10,542 apprentices in Ireland presently and 2016 saw the launch of 25 apprenticeship schemes which offer school-leavers and job-seekers fresh options.

We have indicated in the tables below some of the traditional apprenticeships in Ireland that have seen growth over the past three years. But the Apprenticeship Council of Ireland recognises that numbers on traditional schemes which are construction-focused, for example, will never reach Celtic Tiger heights.

For this reason, and because particular industries have highlighted a new and renewed need for apprentices in their field, the Apprenticeship Council has tried to widen its scope for apprenticeships with its latest 25 programmes offering placements and training in sectors related to travel, software, accountancy and medical devices. At the moment, not all of these have been rolled out but we profile one example here: insurance and finance.

September of 2016 saw Zurich Insurance along with Sligo IT and the Insurance Institute of Ireland (III) begin their apprenticeship in insurance practice.

This is a three-year programme which results in graduates receiving the Professional Diploma in Insurance and a Level 8 BA Degree qualification. So far, 100 people have been registered on the programme, according to the Education and Training Board Ireland (ETBI).

The programme offers professional training to school-leavers and job-seekers and the skills required to work within Zurich’s various sectors through rotations in underwriting, claims handling and direct client advice, before specialising in one area for their final year. Those who apply must have a minimum of two honours in the Leaving Cert and a pass in four additional subjects, including mathematics and English or Irish.

The Apprenticeship Council has also approved a programme run by the Financial Services Ireland (FSI) along with the National College of Ireland (NCI) which sees candidates get a two-year fixed contract in an organisation and a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Business – along with a starting salary of €21,000. Those who are accepted on to the programme will spend four days working in an FSI business and one day attending lectures at the NCI. This programme has 120 places open every year.

FSI also offers two other programmes to people who already have a qualification obtained and relevant work experience, which would be ideal for a candidate looking for a career change. These apprenticeships also last for two years and offer a Level 7 and 8 qualification as well as a starting salary of €35,000.

www.apprenticeship.ie.