Combilift and OEM Engineering Apprenticeship welcome local students for Manufacturing Day Ireland

On Friday, 2 October 2026, Combilift hosted a special Manufacturing Day Ireland event in partnership with the OEM Engineering Apprenticeship, welcoming over 100 students from secondary schools across County Monaghan to explore engineering and learn more about the opportunities available within the sector.

Students from St Macartan’s College, Coláiste Oiriall, Collegiate School, Monaghan and Inver College, Carrickmacross attended the event, where they took part in a range of interactive, hands-on activities designed to give them practical experience of engineering.

The event included a tour of Combilift’s manufacturing facilities and practical activities covering mechatronics, electrical engineering, electronics, technical engineering and lean management. Students were also introduced to technologies including automation and driverless material handling.

The OEM Engineering Apprenticeship team were delighted to meet the students, demonstrate engineering activities and provide information on engineering apprenticeship pathways.

Future Engineers Award announced

During the event, Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar announced the launch of the Future Engineers Award, a new initiative designed to recognise achievement in Engineering and Technology among Leaving Certificate students in County Monaghan.

The award will be open to students sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2027 who achieve a H1 in either Engineering or Technology. Each successful student will receive a €500 award and a special recognition trophy. An awards ceremony is planned to take place at Combilift’s Global Headquarters in August 2027, following the release of the Leaving Certificate results.

Combilift intends for the Future Engineers Award to become an annual recognition of achievement in Engineering and Technology in County Monaghan. The company also hopes the initiative will encourage other manufacturers to consider similar schemes in their own communities.

Speaking at the event, Martin McVicar, CEO and Co-Founder of Combilift, said:

“If we want to have great engineers in manufacturing in the future, we have to encourage young people to see engineering as an exciting career choice.

“When you look at the technology being developed today, engineering is about much more than traditional mechanical engineering. There is software, coding, electrical engineering and mechatronics, and the skills students develop through Engineering and Technology can open up career opportunities across manufacturing.

“We are starting this in Monaghan because this is where Combilift began and where we have our Global Headquarters. As we continue to grow, we are looking for future talent, and we want to encourage more students to take up these subjects and excel in them.

“The skills these students are acquiring today will be important to the future of manufacturing, both here in Ireland and internationally.”

Shane Beirne, Head of Public Sector at Ibec, highlighted the importance of opening manufacturing facilities to young people:

“It’s vital for companies like Combilift to open their doors for days like this, giving students the chance to experience engineering in real life. As the saying goes, see it to be it.”

AnnaMarie Woods, OEM Engineering Apprenticeship Programme Manager, also attended the event and outlined the opportunities available through the OEM Engineering Apprenticeship. The three-year, Level 6 apprenticeship combines college-based learning with practical experience in industry. One of the programme’s college phases is delivered at Monaghan Institute, with OEM Engineering Apprentices also gaining hands-on experience with their respective employers.

The event gave students an opportunity to see how engineering and technology skills are applied within a modern manufacturing environment and to learn more about the education, apprenticeship and career pathways available within the sector.

The OEM Engineering Apprenticeship team would like to thank Combilift for hosting, Ibec for their support, and all of the participating schools, teachers and students who helped make the event such a worthwhile occasion.

Find out more

Interested in a career in engineering? Click the link below for more information on the OEM Engineering Technician Apprenticeship.