Apprenticeship programmes are set to get a big boost this year from 17 new programmes to be developed in 2022.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said that this is a “vital step” towards hitting a goal of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations each year by 2025.
“We now have 62 apprenticeship programmes. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021 despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and we have a further four programmes close to launch.”
Last year saw more than 8,000 people register for apprenticeships, an increase of 25 percent on 2019, and Minister Harris said that this will be further expanded in 2022.
The 17 new courses being developed are in the areas of agriculture, engineering, construction, equine, finance, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics.
Minister Harris said that apprenticeships can provide a “real and substantive career pathway” for people leaving school, those looking to upskill, or people seeking a career change.
An apprenticeship is a work-based learning opportunity. It combines a minimum of 50% work-based learning with an employer with off-the-job learning in an education and training institution.
Apprenticeships lead to internationally recognised qualifications from level 5 -10 of the National Framework of Qualifications.
Apprentices ‘earn while they learn’ – they have an employment contract and are paid a salary for the duration of their apprenticeship.
The 17 new apprenticeships under development during 2022 are as follows:
| Apprenticeship | NFQ Level | |
| Agriculture | ||
| 1 | Farm Manager | Level 7 |
| 2 | Farm Technician | Level 6 |
| 3 | Sportsturf Management | Level 6 |
| Construction | ||
| 4 | Advanced Quantity Surveyor | Level 9 |
| 5 | Roofing and Cladding | Level 5 |
| Engineering | ||
| 6 | Manufacturing Data Integration Engineer | Level 7 |
| 7 | Precision Machinist and Quality Control | Level 6 |
| 8 | Science Aircraft Asset Management | Level 7 |
| 9 | Wind Turbine Maintenance | Level 6 |
| Equine | ||
| 10 | Stud Farm Assistant Management | Level 7 |
| Finance | ||
| 11 | International Financial Services Advanced Specialist | Level 9 |
| 12 | Applied Horticulture | Level 6 |
| Hospitality and Food | ||
| 13 | Bar Manager | Level 7 |
| 14 | Executive Chef | Level 9 |
| ICT | ||
| 15 | Software Solutions Architect | Level 9 |
| 16 | Advanced Cyber Security Practitioner | Level 8 |
| Logistics | ||
| 17 | Transport Operations and Commercial Driving | Level 6 |
