Leaving Cert, Degree or Apprenticeship?

As the Christmas Exams come to an end, students doing their Junior or Leaving Certs in 2019 may already be thinking about their choices ahead and this includes decisions about continuing on education to College or taking up an Apprenticeship Opportunity. But are we talking our kids out of “Trades”?

We need trades people so badly, who fixes your lights, leaks and motor problems when you have an emergency. Who's going to build all these houses we need in the future? Unless we promote and invest in trades and traineeships we could find ourselves in very deep water.

The minimum age to take up traditional craft apprenticeship is 16 years of age, people this age rely on us as parents and supportive adults to help them make the right decisions. We’ve all dreamt about our kids going to University – the photograph with the cap and gown, scroll in hand. The proud parents gleaming with pride and the Grandparents in the shot too if we’re lucky. We work hard to give them the very best, to let them have opportunities that we could only dream of. But what happens if a young person decides that academic life is not for them?

For some young people, ‘coming out’ and telling their parents that they want to leave school between 16 - 18 to do an Apprenticeship is a very difficult task. Yes, they might be a very bright child but that doesn’t matter, they may want to take a different learning path. Initial reactions may be shock and disappointment, we may even try to talk them out of it, “it’s only a phase”, “you’ll enjoy next school term better”. If the child won’t listen this may even turn to anger after all the years you’ve “slaved” to give better opportunities. But it’s not the end of the World, the healthiest way to react to a young adult who’s having “such thoughts” is like everything else. Hear them out, listen carefully, try and understand why they want to do this, support them and research the options with them before jumping to conclusions. They are not “going to ruin their lives” due to non-conformity of your plans, these represent your dreams not theirs.

Dropping out of school or college early to enter the workforce in a “learn as you earn” programme such as an Apprenticeship or Traineeship is not a failure. It can be a very rewarding and positive experience for both parents and young adults if planned carefully and with the full support of those around the person in question. Many people before them have become very successful without a formal college degree. When it comes to big decision making, young people need your support more than ever, so have their back, embrace their feelings, research with them, educate yourself about the options out there and then if they still feel the same about their decision – do what all good parents do...support them all the way and be very proud when they graduate in their field.

We'd be lost if we didn't have trades people and there have been recent media reports that as a country we're way off targets for number of people registering for Apprenticeships in Ireland. See our other Article on this subject; Off Target for Apprenticeships.

Traditional craft apprenticeships include;

Agricultural Mechanics

Aircraft Mechanics

Brick and Stonelaying

Carpentry & Joinery

Construction Plant Fitting

Electrical, Electrical Instrumentation

Electronic Security Systems

Farriery

Floor & Wall Tiling

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics

Industrial Insulation

Instrumentation

Mechanical Automation & Maintenance

Metal Fabrication

Motor Mechanics

Painting & Decorating

Pipefitting

Plastering

Plumbing

Print Media

Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Stonecutting & Stonemasonry

Sheet Metalworking

Toolmaking

Vehicle Body Repairs and Wood Manufacturing and Finishing.

A number of new style apprenticeships have been introduced that can lead to an award ranging between Level 5 and Level 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications and these include;

Accounting Technician

Auctioneering and Property Services

Chef de Partie

Insurance Practitioner

Industrial/Electrical Engineer

Manufacturing Technician

Manufacturing Engineer

Polymer Processing Technologist

Commis Chef

International Financial Services Associate

International Financial Services Specialist

Laboratory Analyst

Laboratory Technician

Logistics Associate

 These bring the current number of available apprenticeship options to 41, with more new apprenticeship programmes currently in the development stages such as;

Advanced Quantity Surveyor

Arboriculture

Baker

Butcher

Engineering Services Management

Geo-Driller

HGV Driver

International Financial Services Advanced Specialist

Precision Turned Parts Manufacturing

Retail Practice

Scaffolding

Applied horticulture

Associate sales professional

CGI technical artist: animation, games, VFX

Equipment systems engineer

Executive Chef

Farm management

Farm technician

Fintech Associate Professional

ICT associate professional in cybersecurity

Lean Sigma manager

Manufacturing ICT Engineer

Manufacturing Technician

Principal engineer - Professional Doctorate

Professional bar manager

Professional hairdressing

Professional healthcare assistant

Recruitment practitioner

Science Aircraft Asset Management

Software system designer

Sous Chef

Sport turf management

Stud farm management

Supply chain associate

Supply chain manager

Supply chain specialist

Wind Turbine Maintenance

Applied Accounting

Food and Drink Process Operator

Maintenance Operations Engineer

Telecommunications Field Technician

For updates and further on Apprenticeships and development of new style apprenticeships check out CareersPortal.ie, they have a lot of information that may help you as a student or parent https://careersportal.ie/apprenticeships/traditional_apprenticeships.php?ed_sub_cat_id=244)

MORE INFORMATION

The ETBs (Education Training Boards) have some really great pre-apprenticeship & apprenticeship courses. These include traditional apprenticeships but also some new ones so it’s worthwhile checking out their websites – list of ETBs can be found here; https://www.etbi.ie/etbs/directory-of-etbs/

TRAINEESHIPS

According to Traineeship.ie, Solas, there are traineeship opportunities available and in development right now such as;

• Aircraft Maintenance Technician
• Aircraft Structures Technician
• Engineering
• Laboratory Assistant
• IT Support Specialist
• Software Developer
• Digital Sales and Marketing
• IT Network Security
• Animation Studio Assistant

CARE HOSPITALITY

• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Health Care Assistant
• Hospitality NFQ Level 4
• Hospitality NFQ Level 5
• Food and Beverage Service

CONSTRUCTION LOGISTICS

• Overhead Lines Operator
• Interior Systems
• Supply Chain Logistics
• Logistics and Distribution

BUSINESS RETAIL

• Office Administration
• Business Systems Service Technician
• Business Administration
• Medical Administration
• Legal Administration
• Retail Associate
• Pharmacy Sales Assistant
• Retail Skills Health and Beauty

SPORTS AND LEISURE FASHION AND BEAUTY

• Outdoor Activity Instructor
• Equestrian International Instructor (BHSAI)
• Sports, Recreation and Exercise
• Beauty Therapist

FINANCE

• Accounts Executive
• Financial Administration

Traineeships are open to all potential participants, of all ages and backgrounds, and are free of charge to participants. Trainees may include school leavers, older learners, those in employment and those who are unemployed.

People who are unemployed and wish, following engagement with their Intreo Case Officer, to access traineeship to up skill for employment, may be eligible for a training allowance or income support.

Eligibility and support to participate in a traineeship is in line with the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy, the Comprehensive Framework for Employment of People with Disabilities and the Action Plan on Jobless Households, eligibility to participate in a traineeship now includes unemployed people who are in receipt of the following payments:

• Jobseekers Benefit
• Jobseekers Payment
• One Parent Family payment
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST)
• Disability Allowance

Eligible persons must also be resident in the state and hold a valid PPSN.

Those in receipt of one of the payments above are eligible to retain their payment while participating in a traineeship. Prospective participants who fulfil these criteria are referred by Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to an Education Training Board (ETB) and receive a training allowance for the duration of their training.

SO WHO'S RECRUITING APPRENTICESHIPS

Of course small business right across the country are hiring apprenticeships from time to time but some really large organisations are also offering opportunities each year such as the ESB, Aerlingus, Atlantic Aviation, County Councils, Dublin Bus and GSK to name a few. Check out job boards like ours JobAlert.ie or jobsireland.ie and it’s also worthwhile putting out the word that you are looking for an apprenticeship as word of mouth still works and you can check in with your local ETB office or jobs centre because sometimes they get information on vacancies that are not even advertised.

ALLOWANCES AND GRANT

There are allowances paid when doing an apprenticeship details of rates can be found here; https://careersportal.ie/apprenticeships/traditional_apprenticeships.php?ed_sub_cat_id=234#.W2Vk9VMvzVp

For some of the pre-apprenticeship courses / traineeships other grants and allowances apply, but you would need to check what’s available and your individual eligibility. These are some of the options that may be available;

 SUSI - Student Maintenance Grant: This means tested grant is a source of financial help available to students on full time Post Leaving Certificate/ Further Education programmes. Check out all grant application information on www.studentfinance.ie SUSI, the grant body, provides a support desk for queries regarding grants, eligibility and the application process. The support desk can be contacted at support@susidetb.ie or alternatively contact 0761 087874. Back to Education Allowance: Mature students may qualify for assistance by means of Back to Education Allowance which allows adults to return to full time education while continuing to get income support. People in receipt of certain social welfare payments can retain payments whilst participating on our PLC/Further Education programmes. All BTEA information is available from the Department of Social Protection /your local Social Welfare Office.

To search for Jobs or to Advertise a job go to www.jobalert.ie

We hope this helped you, best of luck.