Greater opportunities as apprenticeship places continue to rise

The Advanced Certificate in Original Equipment Manufacturing, a three-year Level 6 apprenticeship, was launched by Ministers Joe McHugh and Heather Humpreys this week.

The new course was developed by a number of engineering companies in conjunction with education and training boards in Clare, Limerick, Cavan and Monaghan.

Managing director of Combilift, Martin McVicar, who was part of the team behind the new course said that a skills based apprenticeship should be valued as highly among students as third level degrees.

“Young people completing their second-level education are often encouraged to prioritise third-level college degrees to the detriment of other options,” he explained.

“Despite an increase in the number of applicants for apprenticeships there is a perception among parents and careers advisors across Ireland that it is a fall-back option. The idea that apprenticeships are only for those students that do not achieve high grades has to change.”

Figures released by SOLAS in March of last year showed that there were almost 13,000 individuals in apprenticeship programmes in 2017, a jump of almost 25% from 2016 figures.

Apprenticeships have diversified in recent years , with a number of new programmes introduced in 2016.

Apprenticeship programmes are now offered across the construction, electrical, engineering, finance, ICT, hospitality, logistics, biopharma, motor and property services sectors. Several more are due to come on stream between now and 2020.

These apprenticeships can lead to an award ranging between Level 5 and Level 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

There are currently 41 apprenticeships schemes up and running, a further 12 programmes that are in development awaiting approval, with 26 more proposed.

Of those in the proposed stage, six are related to the agri food sector including; horticulture, farm technicians and farm management, all provided by Teagasc.

A panel of apprentices and those running schemes will speak at the Agri-Careers Expo on February 14 in the RDS, discussing the variety of options in apprenticeships for students.