Apprenticeships - The Low Down
- Marie Russell
- Feb 8, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28, 2023
✍🏼 Updated: June 2023 🗞️
Apprenticeship is defined as a programme of structured education and training which formally combines and alternates learning in the workplace with learning in an education or training centre. It is a dual system, a blended combination of on-the-job employer-based training and off-the-job training
🤔 How are apprenticeships governed?
1967 Industrial Training Act
SOLAS
Higher Education Authority
QQI
💸 How is the scheme funded?
Through the National Training Fund and from the Exchequer.
🤝 Who are the stakeholders?
⚙️ How do apprenticeships work?
Unlike standard college courses, an apprenticeship allows you to earn money and become qualified while you are learning on-the-job, opening up exciting and rewarding careers.
Apprentices ‘earn while they learn’ – they have an employment contract and are paid a salary for the duration of their apprenticeship training.
Apprenticeships vary in length depending on the programme, lasting between two and four years.
Before applying or to begin a program you must have an agreed position with an eligible employer ready to train you.
🪜 How To Become An Apprentice - where do I start?
You must first obtain employment as an apprentice in your chosen trade, from either
Local or regionally-based companies operating in the trade
Register with an Apprenticeship Service with your local Regional Training Centre indicating your interest in becoming an apprentice. Their staff will try to match job vacancies with registered individuals where possible.
🏁 What are the Stages?
This is a sample only of the stages involved in an apprenticeship.
You have to attend your academic training when it’s scheduled and pass each stage in a college/training center to proceed to the next phase on the job. This means there may be lecturers, workshops, assessments, which must be completed at each stage. The results are returned to your employer on time during each phase.
🤔 Are there any drawbacks to opting for training by an apprenticeship?
Earlier starts & harder practically speaking than college lectures & timetables. College isn't easy but you don't have to be in a lecture as early as life on site might start.
Traditionally this was seen as a less academic path to your career - so it may be perceived to some to be an 'easier' option compared to courses with 'high points' on the CAO (for example). However - this assumption might be turned on its head in light of the uncertainties & challenges applicant apprentices face with some entry requirements, aptitude exams & other procedures in securing a place on an apprenticeship.
Making sure you've chosen the right apprenticeship! The same principle applies to picking a course in college - make sure it's plumbing you actually want instead of carpentry! Not sure? Try a work placement or a pre-apprenticeship PLC course in your area.
Some first year apprentices find they take a pay cut from full time work (non skilled) when they first get a start on an apprenticeship programme. Solution? Some take a year to prepare & save, get their vehicle on the road; so they're not stressing about insurance costs. Remember the pay will increase each year of the programme, so this is a temporary problem.
Employers MUST register the apprentices with SOLAS. If this doesn't happen within a few weeks you are entitled to ask for an update and/or contact your local SOLAS office. No one wants to remain on the 1st year apprentice wage for too long!
📈 What are the benefits to chosing to train by the apprenticeship pathway?
A hands on way to achieve a qualification in your area of choice.
89 options & growing each year.
Earning capacity is increased earlier in your career journey. See the graphic below.
An internationally recognised qualification plus experience in a package deal by the time you're qualified - making you highly valuable to employers!
You don't have the fee concerns of college students (see graphic).
🗝 What are the entry requirements for an apprenticeship?
Minimum 16-18 years of age (can vary depending on apprenticeship).
Minimum of grade D in any 5 Junior Certificate subjects OR equivalent (Tip: this is 5 passes or 'ACHIEVED' grades in the new Junior Cycle).
Other employers may request other requirements.
Some employers require specific grades in certain subjects (eg. one large recruiter require an O2 minimum in Maths & do not typically accept LCA Maths)
In 2023 a number of the larger employers started to accept LCA Maths as an w try requirement.
Specific apprenticeships will have their own eligibility criteria - do your research!
Keep a competitive edge to your eligibility by being ‘apprenticeship ready’ - this will go a long way in bridging an age or skills gap!
You may be eligible for RPL (recognised prior learning).
Pre-apprenticeship studies may be an addition to an application - check your local PLC provider.
Check out local Access to Apprenticeship courses - there are not many but they are designed to ensure participants are 'employment ready'.
There may be an aptitude assessment phase to your application.
🤷🏻♀️ How do I find apprenticeships being advertised?
To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs page by location.
Your local Education and Training Board may hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.
Word of mouth.
Networking - get to know people in the industry.
Through part-time work or work experience.
Getting a good reputation - word will spread of your good attitude & work ethic.
Social media - follow the right channels
Local advertisements.
Recruitment posts/agencies.
Start collecting names of local business from social media and/or watching trade vehicles (eg. having a coffee at a petrol station at peak times can see local trades people stopping off!)
Overall - keeping a good old fashioned 👂🏼 to the ground 🏔 can be the best way to find your placement. Plus patience, perseverance and hard work while you’re waiting!!
What apprenticeships are available?
At last count there were 89 apprentiship course options!
The full list is HERE.
New options get added each year. For example Engineering & Quantity Surveying were new additions in 22/23.
Is an apprenticeship for me?
To answer this ask yourself:
💶 Do you want to get earning during your learning?
🧗♂️ Are you prepared to work hard at climbing the apprenticeship competition ladder? Some roles can be very popular with many applicants from different backgrounds/ages/experiences?
📑 Have you your CV updated and ready to drop in multiple businesses, and send widely as advertisements arise?
📲 Are you prepared to get registering & following posts on positions that may arise?
⏱ Are you ready for a possible wait for the right competition to come along?
🧑💼 Are you prepared to get interview ready, as this may form part of an application?
💪 Are you ready to work hard, get stuck in and make a good impression throughout your placement?
📚 Are you ready for the academic component of whatever apprenticeship you’re pursuing entails?
👩🏻🏫 Are you aware you will have to pass each academic phase and submit these results to your employer as each phase rolls in?
🗂 Are you prepared to put up with some tougher jobs until your employer trusts your enough, as you work through the stages of your placement?
👀 Do you know your boss will be watching you with interest, hoping you’re the right fit for the placement?
🚴🏼 Are you ready to go the extra mile to make a good impression?
If you answered ‘YES’ to the above …….….. it sounds like you could be apprentice material.
🍀 Good luck on the road ahead 🛣.
More info:
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
Where can I find out more?
To get in touch by DM or:
📧 pathwaysguidance@gmail.com
🕸 www.pathwaysguidance.ie
📞 0868773289
Marie 🪶
Comments