Generation apprenticeship employer

The Apprenticeship Council has announced details of twenty five national employer ambassadors who are actively promoting the value and benefit of apprenticeship for Irish businesses. The ambassadors are from around the country and work in industry sectors which include finance, tech, insurance, engineering, electrical, logistics, hairdressing, hospitality and biopharma. Mazars has stepped forward to drive the Generation Apprenticeship message to local and regional employers.

Over 6,000 employers in Ireland currently use apprenticeship as a talent pipeline for their business, employing over 17,000 apprentices. Micro companies, SMEs and large companies, including multinationals are increasingly turning to apprenticeship for their recruitment and business growth.

Since 2016, under the umbrella of Generation Apprenticeship the number of national apprenticeship programmes in Ireland has more than doubled, with 54 programmes now on offer and a further 24 programmes in the pipeline. Apprenticeships lead to awards from certificate to Masters level on the National Framework of Qualifications, and now span all twenty-first century industries.

Mazars employs 2 accounting technician apprentices in Dublin and 2 at our Limerick office and we are working at local and a national level to communicate the power and benefits of apprenticeship, focusing primarily on business-to-business promotion, but also working with local schools, parents and community groups. 

The apprenticeship is a logical fit for Mazars, as Accounting Technicians are an essential part of our Outsourcing team. The combination of classroom learning with practical workplace training ensures that, when qualified, the apprentice will be equipped with all the necessary skills to progress as far as they want to within our firm. 

Commenting on the announcement, Pat Doherty, CEO of ESB and Chairman of the Apprenticeship Council said:

“Building the Generation Apprenticeship community is a priority as the apprenticeship system expands in Ireland. We are delighted to have 25 active and passionate ambassadors around the country, demonstrating how apprenticeships enable businesses to attract, retain and grow the skills necessary for success in today’s rapidly changing business world.”

Generation Apprenticeship aims to have over 70 apprenticeship programmes on offer by the end of 2020. The policy to establish apprenticeship as a major route to skills development in Ireland is set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020, see www.solas.ie. In 2020 work will get underway on a second action plan to build on the progress made over the past four years.

Any apprenticeship employer who is interested in joining the Generation Apprenticeship Employer Ambassador scheme can contact apprenticeship@solas.ie for more information.