‘If you can’t hire the talent you need, grow it’

That was the message from the National OEM Apprenticeship Employer Information and Networking event which was held at the College of Further Education and Training in Raheen, Co Limerick.

George O Callaghan, CEO of Limerick Clare Education & Training Board opened the event, which was an opportunity for all to network and learn more about the OEM Apprenticeship programme from the current partner companies, the programme tutors and the current OEM apprentices. Kevin Bartley, Apprenticeship Manager with Limerick Clare Education & Training Board welcomed everyone to the Raheen campus, with OEM Programme Manager AnnaMarie Woods setting the scene for the evening with the back story of the programme.

In 2015, twenty-two manufacturing companies from across the island of Ireland came together to identify their common skills gaps. They initially identified a lack of practical mechatronics knowledge as one of the main gaps which would become very much the core for initiating the programme. This along with other electro-mechanical and soft skill modules would become the fundamental foundation of the OEM Apprenticeship programme.  Furthermore, the introduction of future technologies in the form of robotics, further enhances the subject matter delivered in the college which is also underpinned through the live environment of the workplace. This 3-year, Level 6 apprenticeship programme is very much Industry led, which gives good scope for the continuous development of the programme in line with the evolution of industry needs.

Stephen Carron, coordinating tutor on the programme, gave an overview of the modules covered on the apprenticeship and spoke of the relevance of the classroom learning to the workplace application.

Also speaking at the event were companies who currently have apprentices on the programme; Owen Kavanagh from Abbey Machinery told the attendees “Abbey recognised the potential benefits of this apprenticeship to their business from the off-set…the modules covered are ideal for our company needs”

Martin Mc Vicar from Combilift, one of the founding companies of the apprenticeship said “For Combilift, this apprenticeship has been so critical to our business” adding “because the content is very much based around us as industry businesses, it is very relevant to today and the skills that are needed in the future”

Aidan Kinsella from Dennison Trailers, who was also involved in the development of the programme said “this has been a fantastic journey for Dennison, this apprenticeship is helping to motivate and retain staff and is really beginning to reap the rewards”

Adam Montgomery from Moffett Automated Storage said “Like most companies, we are finding it difficult to hire engineering technicians, so at Moffett Automated Storage, through this apprenticeship programme, we are committed to building our own workforce” Adam also spoke of the value of the programme in terms of the apprentices being ‘taught how to understand’

Enda Lacey from Tanco, another founding member of the programme, spoke about the relevance of the skills developed on the programme and how they complement the core competencies required to future proof the requirements of their business.

Closing the event, current apprentices on the programme, Caoimhe Dennehy, Jake Dunne and Paul Callan, also addressed the room. The three spoke about how much they are learning throughout the apprenticeship and how they appreciate this opportunity given to them by their respective employers. Each of them not only outlined the knowledge and experience gained, but additionally how they have grown individually within their chosen companies.

Click the link below for more information on the OEM Apprenticeship programme.