Apprenticeships helping to fill the skills gap in the engineering industry

Even before the pandemic hit, companies were finding it difficult to meet the demand for engineering talent and that trend continues with many successful companies in Ireland struggling to keep up with their recruiting needs and goals.

One such company is Turmec, a world leader in recycling solutions based in County Meath.

Initially the company specialised in general engineering, but over time they evolved and now lead the way, designing and manufacturing market-leading, cost-effective and high-quality facilities for customers in the recycling sector. So, it is a fantastic place for anyone with a passion for engineering to work in. Two people who have that passion are Jake and Conor who are currently working with Turmec through an OEM apprenticeship aimed at the Original Equipment Manufacturing, Installation and Services Sector.

The apprenticeship was launched by Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board in conjunction with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and leaders in the manufacturing industry. It gives Jake and Conor the opportunity to train in a diverse range of engineering skills and processes, which are highly sought by Irish companies in the engineering sector. This type of apprenticeship traditionally leads to full-time employment with an OEM company and also offers the possibility of progression to Bachelor of Engineering degrees within Higher Education.

Overseeing their career path with Turmec is Engineering Manager, Richard Murphy, who has seen first-hand the benefits of apprenticeships to both the employer and the apprentice.

Richard is a degree qualified engineer with over ten years’ experience in the design of heavy duty plant equipment for both the recycling and the aggregate industry. Speaking about Jake and Conor it’s obvious that Richard is impressed with the value they are bringing to the business already.

“The guys are in their second year at the company and have contributed greatly during their time here and are an excellent asset to the company. We’re definitely looking to the long term with both of them. Traditionally we have struggled to attract enough engineers as we are in a rural setting here in County Meath. We find that candidates don’t necessarily come from a traditionally academic background and tend to progress in engineering thanks to their strong technical knowledge, innovation and hands-on skills.”

Other skills that ideal engineering apprentices tend to possess are strong communication skills, critical reasoning, as well as a creative mind and enthusiasm. While Richard himself went down the route of doing a certificate followed by diploma and then a degree, he can see the huge benefits through apprenticeship of learning and earning within a company from the ground up.

“This particular apprenticeship would suit those who already have skills in certain areas like IT or electronics, someone with that kind of expertise to bring to the table would definitely excel in this environment more than someone fresh out of university with no experience.”

According to Richard it is a great opportunity for companies like Turmec to build the talent pool they want instead of waiting for the talent to simply walk through their doors.

Most employers who take on apprentices find that it is more often skills and not necessarily qualifications that tend to determine a candidate’s suitability in a role. Many candidates find themselves securing their dream job through non-traditional routes like upskilling, reskilling or taking advantage of complementary skills from other similar roles or apprenticeships.

As for any advice Richard would have for employers considering take on apprentices, on this he is quite emphatic. “From a longer term view we now see apprentices within 5 years leading projects way ahead of those who have just come out of university” he said. Both Jake and Conor are working out brilliantly for us, the OEM apprenticeship programme is so flexible and should suit many employers, the sooner you get involved the sooner you get to see the benefits.”

“Jake really stood out in his interview when I realised he’d been looking up videos on YouTube and researching the work we do on the production line. That really showed his enthusiasm to learn and already since his time started here, he has a greater understanding on how to break things down. Conor is also a fantastic asset to the company, he came from a metal fabrication background and that is such a great skillset to bring with you and it shows already in his work with us.”

As for Richard’s advice to any budding apprentices “It’s important to remember that when you join somewhere like Turmec it’s a big company but it’s made up of small teams and the opportunities are enormous as you learn from your mentor and tutor. You become a part of a team that is constantly striving to improve the quality and the delivery of their designs. This starts in the engineering offices with the initial design concept from a customer’s specific requirements and continues on to the assembly floor and then onto the installation process at the customer’s sites. With an apprenticeship you can be involved in all this, showcasing your ideas and problem solving skills every step of the way.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, recently announced the introduction of an annual grant of €2000 for employers who take on apprentices in one of the 37 post-2016 apprenticeships including OEM. This new scheme may help encourage companies to take on more apprentices. Whether through government supports or company endorsements like that of Turmec, it’s obvious that apprenticeship in Ireland has lots of options for many companies and the apprentices who are bringing them increased skills and loyalty.

For more information on becoming an OEM Apprenticeship Employer see: https://oemapprenticeship.ie/become-an-oem-employer/