BellTIME
BellTIME
Industry-led Apprenticeship
A new apprenticeship in the manufacturing
and engineering industries was launched
by Joe McHugh TD Minister for Education
and Skills and Heather Humphreys TD,
Minister for Business, Innovation and
Enterprise at Combilift, Annahagh,
Monaghan on Monday 14th January
2019. The apprenticeship was designed
to fill the skills gap faced by Irish
equipment manufacturing firms including
Combilift (Monaghan), Dennison Trailers
(Kildare), Dairymaster (Kerry) and McHale
Engineering (Mayo).
This Advanced Certificate in Original
Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) is a
three-year Level 6 apprenticeship, with a
focus on the engineering and
manufacturing sectors. It is supported by
Enterprise Ireland and a consortium of
leading mid-Tier engineering Irish
companies. This new apprenticeship was
developed by the engineering companies
in conjunction with education and training
boards in Cavan and Monaghan, Limerick
and Clare.
Speaking at the launch Martin McVicar,
Managing Director, Combilift and chair of
the industry-led consortium behind this
apprenticeship, said that this new
apprenticeship with many of the other
industry-led apprenticeships, will drive
Ireland from an exclusively knowledge-
based economy, to one that has a
stronger emphasis on skills.
12
“This new apprenticeship will help meet
the evolving skill set requirements of
engineering
and
manufacturing
companies. This is crucial as many firms
are reporting shortages of qualified skilled
employees, which are capable of
designing, assembling and trouble-
shooting machinery for the future. These
are skills which combine mechanical,
hydraulic, electronic, software and robotic
technologies. This apprenticeship offers
individuals the opportunity to develop
these essential skills in an earn, learn and
live it environment while completing
training and hands-on experience with an
employer and receiving an internationally
recognised qualification.”
This new apprenticeship will drive
employment in companies across the
country,” according to the Combilift
Managing Director. “This apprenticeship
will become a key contributor to the
strategic recruitment and planning process
of many indigenous and international
organisations based in Ireland. Employers
have committed time and effort to its
development. There are jobs and strong
career opportunities throughout the
country and internationally for those who
complete this apprenticeship. It is time that
we promote the apprenticeship route with
the same enthusiasm which we do for
degrees.”
There were just over 201,000 people
working in the manufacturing sector in
Ireland in 2016 according to the Central
Statistics Office, making it one of the
largest sectors of employment in the State,
after retail and the health services sector.
There are 12,790 manufacturing
enterprises throughout the country.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)
companies range in size from SME’s to
large indigenous and multinational
companies.
Manufacturing firms play a critical role in
the Irish economy as a driver of exports,
as an employer, as a source of revenue
and as a driver of growth. There is also
significant spin off effects, such as indirect
employment supported in other sectors
including
services
and
logistics.
Manufacturing firms based in Ireland
source approximately €14 billion of
materials and services from Irish based
suppliers.
Combilift’s Managing Director believes that
there is a need to review the perception of
apprenticeships.
“Young
people
completing their second level education
are often encouraged to prioritise third level
college degrees to the determinant of
other options. Despite an increase in the
number of applicants for apprenticeships
there is a perception 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. This
apprenticeship offers a very credible career
path for high achieving students who are
looking for a rewarding career in
engineering and manufacturing.”
Mr McVicar, a past winner of the EY
Entrepreneur of the Year, acknowledges
that there are many options for those with
400+ Leaving Cert points but strongly
argues that “this apprenticeship also offers
a rewarding and challenging career path
from the day the apprentice starts. When
employers are hiring, they don’t advertise
for someone with knowledge they
specifically state that they are seeking
launched to meet growing skills gap
someone
with
skills
and
this
apprenticeship combines knowledge,
skills and industry experience. The
brightest and best of our students should
be encouraged to consider this option.
Career advice and decisions that are
driven by school league tables are not
serving our children or our country well.
The pressure to get a third level degree
with the hope of a good job at the end is
not always beneficial to students or our
economy.”
Launching the apprenticeship Minister for
Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD
said: “We need more initiatives like this
and more industry-led ideas on how to
draw young people into apprenticeships
and emerging and exciting lines of work.
We also need to provide more
Government support for apprenticeships
and to think about how we are going to
provide more career opportunities in a
fast-changing world of work. We hear a
lot of criticism about the pressures on
students, especially at the Leaving Cert
and with the challenge of pursuing further
education. So, the more we can do to
provide a variety of exciting opportunities
with solid career paths the better.”
The Minister for Business, Innovation and
Enterprise Heather Humphreys TD
acknowledged the contribution of industry
in the development of the apprenticeship.
“Companies need skilled staff to grow,
and this was recognised very early on by
this cohort of companies, based as they
are in local communities right across the
country. They have demonstrated this
clearly
through
involvement
in
apprenticeships,
traineeships
and
Skillnets upskilling, and now again through
this new programme. The leadership that
OEM firms with Enterprise Ireland have
shown in spearheading this initiative will
be key as we face into the post-Brexit
Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Education and Skills, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for
Business, Innovation and Enterprise, Martin McVicar, Managing Director Combilift and
Chair of the OEM Consortium group, Robert Moffett, co-founder Combilift, John Kearney,
CE, CMETB and local public representatives at the launch of the OEM apprenticeship.
trading environment, and in
diversification of export markets.”
the
This apprenticeship is aimed at school
leavers who have completed their Leaving
Certificate, or mature applicants, who wish
to pursue a career in this area. This work-
based learning will be carried out in an
industrial setting and provides the
apprentice with the opportunity to practise
the skills acquired in the off-the-job phase
in the ETBs and to develop new
workplace skills and competences. During
the work-based stages the apprentice will
build up a level of experience while
working alongside senior technicians,
supervisors and managers in specific,
relevant work contexts. The apprentice will
also attend off the job education and
training, on a block release basis over the
three-year period.
Speaking at the event, Mr John Kearney,
Chief Executive, Cavan and Monaghan
Education and Training Board (CMETB)
outlined the training programme and the
potential progression routes for students
completing this apprenticeship. “This new
apprenticeship opens up exciting new
opportunities for participants in terms of
applied skills development but also the
prospects of life-long learning. Graduates
of the OEM Apprenticeship will have the
potential to continue along specific
learning pathways up to and including
Level 10 on the National Framework of
Qualifications. This apprenticeship will
provide skilled OEM apprentices, and offer
credible career paths and progression
routes in Institutes of Technology in
Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Carlow and also
University of Limerick.”
The OEM Apprenticeship is open for
recruitment with further information
available from Cavan and Monaghan
Education and Training Board (cmetb.ie).
The programme development and delivery
of the apprenticeship is funded by SOLAS,
the state agency responsible for education
and training.
Combilift is currently recruiting for spaces
on its OEM Traineeship as previously
featured in Bell Times. It is run in
association with CMETB at Monaghan
Institute. Further details and application
forms are available from Combilift.com or
Monaghan Institute.
13