The inaugural Graduation ceremony for the first successful cohort of the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) Apprenticeship from Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) took place on Thursday 27th October in The Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross.

This event marked a landmark occasion for education, not only in the celebration of the achievements of the apprentices and employers but also highlighting the success of the collaborative partnerships between education and industry that bore this apprenticeship to life.

The OEM Apprenticeship is a product of when education and industry work together. In 2015 a number of manufacturing companies nationally came together and formed a Consortia Steering Group (CSG) to actively address the emerging demands for skills in the manufacturing sector in Ireland.

Working with education partners, Cavan and Monaghan ETB board, they established a working group and in response to the Apprenticeship Council’s call for proposals in 2015, the CSG put forward a proposal for the development and provision of a Level 6 Apprenticeship in Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM). In 2019 the industry-led apprenticeship was launched, with these nine graduates becoming the very first apprentices on the programme, completing their off-the-job phases in Monaghan Institute.

The graduation event on Thursday highlighted the value of partnership and stakeholder collaboration and showcased how the aspirations of the apprentices, employers and education providers have been met in a future focused apprenticeship programme, which has been externally authenticated as delivering to the highest national standards.

Opening the event, AnnaMarie Woods (OEM Apprenticeship Programme Manager) welcomed all the attendees and congratulated the nine graduates from Combilift, Dennison Trailers, Keenan Alltech, Leidos and Tanco Autowrap.

Ms Woods said “This is indeed a proud day for myself and my team and it has been a pleasure working with these apprentices over the past three years. These nine students are an exemplary example of the talent, skill, dedication and resilience that exists among our young people today and I have no doubt they have very bright futures ahead of them.”

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said: “This new apprenticeship has become a key contributor to the strategic recruitment planning process of many indigenous and international organisations based in Ireland. Over the last three years this new apprenticeship has helped meet the evolving skill set requirements of engineering and manufacturing companies.”

Dr Fiona McGrath (Chief Executive, CMETB) said: “One of CMETB’s strategic priorities within its Further Education and Training (FET) strategy is Delivering on Apprenticeships. With the work of the

Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills in recent years, we are well on our way to carving out a clear remit for FET and Apprenticeship programmes nationally. 

I would like to congratulate today’s graduates and pay tribute to the OEM Consortium Steering Group for their contributions, dedication and enthusiasm in the development of this Apprenticeship programme, to establish a future pathway for the OEM Apprentice and the OEM Employers, both locally and nationally”.

The OEM Apprenticeship programme represents a new and exciting way to study Engineering leading to excellent career prospects in an array of industries.  The programme delivers skilled apprentices adapted to working in a dynamic engineering environment. Graduates of the programme receive a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Original Equipment Manufacturing and are qualified as OEM Engineering Technicians, a widely sought-after skill set in the manufacturing, installation, servicing and commissioning sectors, both nationally and globally.

Employers from all over the country currently have apprentices participating on the programme, including Combilift, Dennison Trailers, Keenan Alltech, Leidos, Tanco Autowrap, Jungheinrich, Moffett Automated Storage, Turmec, Abbey Machinery, Geon, Dennehy’s Garden and Machinery, Dairymaster, Dawn Farms, Arjo, Silent-Aire and Trimfold.

Speaking at the event, Martin Mc Vicar (CEO, Combilift) said “I am a real advocate of apprenticeships and putting the skills that you are learning into practice. The skills that you learn practically you will remember for life, what we learn in a textbook doesn’t always stick the same as when we learn by a hands-on approach.”

Closing the event, Dr Mary-Liz Trant (Director, National Apprenticeship Office) said “There is belief and understanding now in this country of just how important skills are and how valuable they are, and of the fantastic career paths apprenticeships create for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.”

The OEM Apprenticeship is a national apprenticeship programme which is managed by Cavan and Monaghan ETB with collaborating provider Limerick and Clare ETB. If you would like to find out more about the OEM Apprenticeship programme… if you are an aspiring apprentice or an interested employer please visit: www.oemapprenticeship.ie