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Calling all Employees with children, you could be entitled to some extra financial support!Have you ever heard about the Working Family Payment scheme? It&#39;s a tax-free payment available to employees on low pay, who have children. The payment is not taxed and you may also be entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Over 53,000 working families are currently benefitting from the scheme already and receiving on average €135 per week. Maybe you could benefit too?So, for example, a person with 2 children, where the average family income in less than €622, you will receive 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and €622!<ul></ul>Here&#39;s more information and links to the official Welfare.ie website where you&#39;ll find everything you need to know about the Working Family Payment Scheme. Minister Doherty launches Working Family Payment Information CampaignMonday, 10 June, 2019: The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D., has announced a nationwide information campaign aimed at raising awareness of the Government’s Working Family Payment scheme and to alert employees that they may qualify for this scheme while they are working.Minister Doherty today emphasised:“The Working Family Payment is one of my Department’s schemes to provide support for employees with families who have low earnings. Currently, over 53,000 working families with 120,000 children are benefitting from the scheme and receiving average weekly payments of €135.“I want everybody who is entitled to such supports to be aware of what is available and this new information campaign seeks to promote greater awareness. If anybody out there thinks that they and their family might qualify, I would urge them to contact their local Intreo Centre or simply check out the details of the scheme on our website <a href="http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/home.aspx">www.welfare.ie</a>”The estimated expenditure on the Working Family Payment in 2018 was €410.5 million and the allocation for 2019 is €416.44 million. One of the measures that Minister Doherty secured in Budget 2019 was the introduction of a housing cost disregard for customers in receipt of maintenance payments. This brings Working Family Payment into line with other social assistance schemes. Arising from this Budget measure, approximately €9.1 million extra will be paid out annually, with affected customers benefiting by an average increase of €27.40 per week in their payment. Recent analysis undertaken by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection showed that existing in-work supports, in particular, the Working Family Payment and the Back to Work Family Dividend, are very effective, and work well in assisting individuals to make the transition from unemployment into employment. The information campaign will run from today until the end of July on national and local media including print, radio, digital and Out of House including on the Luas and Dart and in train stations. The cost of the campaign is €120,000 (inc. VAT).The Working Family Payment is available to employees in private and public sectors. The Working Family Payment is not taxable and neither is it taken into account in assessment for a medical card or GP card.An employee who is getting the Working Family Payment may also be entitled to receive the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance that is paid annually. The Department’s Back to Work Family Dividend and Working Family Payment can also be paid together and the Dividend will not be taken into account in the income test for Working Family Payment.The following table shows the family income that applies, depending on the family size. For example, a person with one child, with an average weekly family income of up to €521 may qualify for the Working Family Payment. The payment they receive is 60% of the difference between their average weekly family income and the income limit that applies to their family. Family Size and here the weekly family income* is up to;A person with one child - €521A person with two children - €622A person with three children - €723A person with four children - €834A person with five children - €960A person with six children - €1,076A person with seven children - €1,212A person with eight or more children - €1,308*These are net income figures, meaning after income tax, Universal Social Charge, employee PRSI, and pension contributions have been deducted.Full details on the Working Family Payment are available on the Department’s website <a href="http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Working-Family-Payment.aspx">here</a>. A list of FAQs is available <a href="http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Working-Family-Payment-SW-22.aspx">here</a>

Tax-free payment available to employees with children who are on low pay!

Over 200 jobs are to be created by Immedis, an Irish company that develops payroll and tax services and software for multinational companies. The new positions will be in tax, compliance, IT, software development, marketing, finance, and sales and will be based in Dublin and Kilkenny offices.The firm was founded in 2016 and is part of the Taxback financial technology group founded by entrepreneur Terry Clune.Immedis currently employs 170 people, but it has rapid growth plans and has just received a new investment of €25 million from Scottish Equity Partners (SEP).As a result, it plans to increase its workforce to 400 within 18 months, with recruitment getting under way immediately.The company hopes the expansion will position it to take a larger slice of the $43 billion global payroll and HR market. Among Immedis&#39; clients are Uber, Wayfair, First Derivatives, NYIT, DCC and Abbvie. In 2017 it announced a $10m acquisition of US international payroll company Expaticore.&quot;We are delighted to be partnering with SEP. Their investment and experience of scaling technology companies will help us further execute on our ambition to be the best in the world, continuing to balance our market leading technology and deep international tax knowledge that puts our platform to the fore of the global payroll landscape,&quot; said Immedis CEO, Ruairi Kelleher.&quot;Immedis has a fantastic record of growth to date, the leading cloud-based global payroll platform in iConnect and an exceptional track record of delivering for its customers&quot; said Keith Davidson, Partner at SEP. He added: &quot;Our investment is a vote of confidence in the business, helping it to continue to innovate through further investment in its product and its people.&quot;Visit their Careers page here; <a href="https://immedis.com/careers/?department=all&amp;location=Dublin/Kilkenny,%20Ireland">https://immedis.com/careers/?department=all&amp;location=Dublin/Kilkenny,%20Ireland</a>

200 New Jobs Located in Dublin & Kilkenny

Zoefia May Woods

There&#39;s just one month left to apply for the Bachelor in Stage Management and Technical Theatre at The Lir Academy, Trinity College Dublin. The three year practice based degree in stage management and technical theatre is perfect for students who are interested in a career in professional theatre, TV and film. The Bachelor in Stage Management and Technical Theatre Degree is not part of the CAO point’s race - check out the criteria below.Tuition fees for EU students who have not previously studied at degree level are paid by the Irish Exchequer. The student pays a Student some of which can be covered by Local Authority grant. The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art, is located at Trinity Technology and Enterprise Campus, Pearse Street (at Grand Canal Quay) in an exciting new building designed specifically for the range of courses on offer.More information:This three-year honours degree offers practice based training to students who are interested in a career in professional theatre, TV and film. It provides opportunities in specialist areas within stage management and technical theatre (e.g. sound, lighting and construction), professional placements and a major research project relevant to a student’s choice of specialism. Classes on production management, design (set, lighting, costume and sound) and managing your own freelance business will also be introduced during the final year.Year one - Introduction Year one is designed to introduce students to practice based training in all technical departments including lighting, sound, prop making, scenic art, costume, set construction and stage management. Core skills based classes in theatre skills, theatre technologies and theatre studies will be complemented by practice based learning on in-house productions.  Year two - Application Year two will see students apply the skills learned from their first year to a series of theatre and film productions, directed and designed by professional practitioners. Each student will have the opportunity to become a head of department and work alongside their peers to deliver a full production.  Year Three - Advanced In year three students will undertake work placements with prominent theatre companies, festivals and industry related companies in order to further develop their chosen area of specialism. Research projects will be assigned according to the preferred career choice of each individual student.The practical training during the degree course will be complemented with a range of classes including theatre history, principles of stage management and principles of theatre technology.Go to their website here;<a href="https://www.thelir.ie/courses/stage-management-and-technical-theatre-degree?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;utm_campaign=smtt_2019&amp;fbclid=IwAR0KsOZ2k7VBxkYZ7J5qWx-lb8bWA9PaZIjpMg03THGrSi416vix3lOUX74">https://www.thelir.ie/courses/stage-management-and-technical-theatre-degree?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;utm_campaign=smtt_2019&amp;fbclid=IwAR0KsOZ2k7VBxkYZ7J5qWx-lb8bWA9PaZIjpMg03THGrSi416vix3lOUX74</a>

Bachelor in Stage Management and Technical Theatre at The Lir Academy, TCD

Director & Ideation Manager

Pamela Doyle

The Samaritans are urging students, parents and teachers to look after their mental health over the coming weeks during the exam season. (Read more here; <a href="https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/news/samaritans-urge-students-put-wellbeing-ahead-exam-results/">https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/news/samaritans-urge-students-put-wellbeing-ahead-exam-results/</a>)Have you ever considered volunteering with Samaritans?Giving some time to be a Samaritan means being there for people who desperately need someone. And that really matters.Right now the Samaritans need volunteers more than ever. Find out how you can help.Samaritans Ireland is looking for volunteers who can give up three hours a week to those most in need.There are now 21 Samaritans branches across the country with over 1,800 active volunteers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Samaritans are best known for the vital support given to callers on its 24-hour telephone service, but volunteers are also on hand to offer support by text messages, email and face-to-face in communities, festival, outreach events and in prisons.Mary, a carer, began volunteering with Samaritans over 12 years ago.“During my time with Samaritans I have learned so much. I’ve grown and developed as a person and the sense of satisfaction I get from knowing I was able to help and support someone is the best feeling,” she said.“For me, Samaritans is a family and we offer each other help and support whenever we need it - whether we are dealing with something personal in our lives or with a challenging call. My experience of volunteering with Samaritans has been life-changing. It takes commitment and dedication, but you’ll be paid back a hundredfold.” Enda, an air traffic controller, has been volunteering since 2012.“Anyone can be a Samaritan as long as you believe in what you’re doing and you’re willing to listen,” he said.“Allowing someone the space to talk, and really listening to what they want to talk about, are skills I’ve tried to adhere to both on and off duty.“What really drives me though are the callers and knowing that by being there to pick up the phone I may have given them a beacon of hope. No matter where you are in life, the need to be heard and the need for empathy are things that will be with us always.”<h2></h2><h2>Ways you can help Samaritans</h2>As a listening volunteer you’ll answer calls and messages from people who really need someone to talk to. <h4>Does this sound like you?</h4><ul><li>You&#39;re interested in listening to people going through a tough time</li><li>You&#39;re open-minded and non judgemental</li><li>You&#39;re able to listen without telling people what to do</li></ul><h3>Help people at difficult times</h3>Every six seconds someone contacts us. Every six seconds we can help someone turn their life around. As a listening volunteer you get the chance to make a real difference to someone’s future.<h3>Get support every step of the way</h3>You’ll receive full training to prepare you for the kinds of conversations you’ll have. And when you start out, you’ll have a mentor with you, to give you confidence you’re doing the right thing.<h3>Learn to do something valuable</h3>You’ll gain a range of new skills and the confidence to use them, including the ability to understand people and manage difficult conversations. Many employers value these kinds of skills.<h2>What it’s like being a listening volunteer</h2><ul><li>It’s always different and always interesting – no two conversations are the same.</li><li>It feels like a privilege to have people confiding in you.</li><li>You’re never on your own, and there’s a fun, supportive atmosphere in our branches.</li><li>You can offer support on the phone, email or text.</li><li>You can take a break between conversations whenever you need to.</li><li>Spending a few hours helping other people can make you feel good about yourself.</li></ul>There are lots of other things you could do to support the Samaritans – marketing our services, fundraising, organising events, providing IT support or helping out in one of our shops. It all depends what you want to do and what you’re good at.Click here for more information on helping;<a href="https://volunteer.samaritans.org/volunteer/listening-volunteer">https://volunteer.samaritans.org/volunteer/listening-volunteer</a>Samaritans are required day and night - watch a video about the night volunteer campaign here;Watch the video about <a href="https://youtu.be/hSW0BoCcP90">https://youtu.be/hSW0BoCcP90</a>

Volunteering with the Samaritans

Tired of coming home from work to a cluttered house? Do you struggle to find space, stranded in a sea of clutter? Well, take heart. RTE&#39;s Home Rescue TV Show is on the lookout for people to participate on their next series. Architect Róisín Murphy, builder Peter Finn and their crew are back with a new series on RTE ONE – redesigning rooms and bringing order to chaos.Here&#39;s what the producers say...Let’s face it – as a nation we’re slow to let go. Old furniture and random knick-knacks, unused clothes and unfinished projects – eating up space and burying precious memories under a blanket of clutter. One day, a Spring clean will come, but somehow, it never does. Until now. Each week architect and designer Róisín Murphy and builder Peter Finn takes an existing cluttered home. This could belong to a family, an individual or a group of friends. We tackle their clutter head on and offer them real resolutions with an entire makeover of two of the worst rooms in their house, all done with the help of IKEA.Do you have piles and piles of useless clutter in your front room? Do you have trouble letting go of the past? If so we want to hear from you!Click this link to apply to appear on the show; <a href="https://coco.submit.com/show/17">https://coco.submit.com/show/17</a>

RTE's Home Rescue, could be 'just the job' to get you back on track!

Are you doing your Leaving Cert or have previously completed it and don&#39;t yet have a Degree? You may want to apply for the Central Bank of Ireland&#39;s Scholarship Programme. Applications open until 28th June 2019 so you have plenty of time to apply. Earn €26,470 and complete a fully funded Part Time BA (Hons) Degree in Business Studies or a BA (Hons) Degree in Accounting and Finance. They are looking for people from diverse backgrounds who are passionate, energetic and driven to achieve their career goals.These courses will commence on 16 September 2019. Information from Central Bank of Ireland;Make an Impact, Grow Your CareerOur Scholarship Programme, in partnership with Griffith College, is designed to identify and nurture talent and to support motivated individuals to start a career while pursuing further education.We will provide the environment where you can: <ul><li>Undertake a fully funded part-time honours degree</li><li>Grow your career</li><li>Gain experience and invest in yourself.</li></ul>The backbone of our culture is the friendliness, helpfulness and dedication of our people – they are our greatest asset. Would you like to make an impact and grow your career with us?Our Scholarship ProgrammeWe are offering successful candidates a four-year employment contract and, in partnership with Griffith College, a place on one of these three-year part-time degree courses:<ul><li>BA (Hons) in Business Studies</li><li>BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance </li></ul>These courses will commence on 16 September 2019.Successful applicants will work full time at Central Bank while completing their studies at Griffith College on a part-time basis. Candidates will be placed in suitable roles across a range of business areas and will work on projects that contribute to the financial stability of the economy and the protection of consumers.Learning JourneyAs a member of the Scholarship Programme, you can expect:<ul><li>A comprehensive induction to enable you to develop your technical competencies and relevant soft skills</li><li>Career development guidance with the allocation of a mentor, a dedicated HR representative and committed manager for the duration of the programme</li><li>A supportive performance management system</li><li>State-of-the-art in-house training facilities and study spaces.</li></ul>BenefitsOn the Scholarship Programme, you can expect:<ul><ul><li>A competitive salary (c. €26,470)</li><li>24 days’ annual leave</li><li>Excellent personal development and training opportunities</li><li>Educational assistance and paid study leave</li><li>Flexible working hours and excellent work-life balance</li><li>Defined benefit pension scheme</li><li>Great sports and social opportunities</li><li>A growing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme</li><li>Employee wellness programmes</li><li>Subsidised staff restaurant</li><li>TaxSaver commuter ticket scheme</li><li>Cycle to Work scheme.What We’re Looking For</li></ul></ul>If you have these skills and attributes, we want to hear from you:<ul><ul><ul><li>You are driven, motivated and a self-starter.</li><li>You want to learn.</li><li>You have recently completed your Leaving Certificate and have attained, or expect to attain in the current academic year, a minimum of two honour grades (H5s), and a minimum of four ordinary level grades (O6), including a minimum O6 in ordinary level Maths and a minimum O6 in an ordinary level language. This can be English, Irish or another language.</li></ul></ul></ul>If you have previous working experience or have completed an internship within financial services or a related area, that’s great. However, it is by no means a requirement.ApplyDo you think you are a good fit for the Central Bank? Are we a good fit for you? Are you ready to make an impact and grow your career while undertaking a fully funded part-time honours degree? If you are nodding “Yes” to these questions, we want to hear from you.Apply now for a place on this Scholarship Programme in partnership with Griffith College.As part of your application, you will be asked to submit your CV and describe some of your achievements and your motivations in applying for the Scholarship Programme.Closing date: 28 June 2019Please note: Applicants must not currently hold a third level qualification. Once the closing date has passed, we will begin our shortlisting process and be in touch with you in due course.Equal OpportunitiesCentral Bank of Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applications from a diverse mix of candidates. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY; <a href="https://www.centralbank.ie/careers/scholarship-programme-2019-2020?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=CBI-Careers&amp;utm_campaign=scholarship-2019&amp;utm_content=43620">https://www.centralbank.ie/careers/scholarship-programme-2019-2020?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=CBI-Careers&amp;utm_campaign=scholarship-2019&amp;utm_content=43620</a>

LAST CALL!! Central Bank of Ireland Degree Scholarship Programme

Carl O&#39;Brien, Education Editor
It is estimated that by 2020 Ireland will have more than 70 different apprenticeships on offer, with awards ranging from certificate to PhD level. The number of school-leavers choosing apprenticeships has almost doubled in recent years as rising numbers of pupils look towards “earn and learn” options.The current apprenticeship population now stands at 16,000, almost double the 8,300 in apprenticeships in 2015.While the bulk of the numbers remain in traditional craft areas, new apprenticeships offer school-leavers a chance to get a degree while working in white-collar sectors ranging from accounting to auctioneering and insurance to ICT.A range of new options are due to be rolled out this year in areas ranging from engineering to wind turbine maintenance and hairdressing.The Government is due to announce capital funding of more than €7.5 million for nine institutes of technology and Technological University Dublin to help expanding and modernising apprenticeship options over the coming years.Minister for Education Joe McHugh said ensuring young people and those retraining have access to cutting-edge equipment and the latest thinking on sustainability was key to further developing this increasingly popular option.“Apprenticeships offer fantastic opportunities, and I would encourage any person looking at their career options, especially students preparing to sit exams this week, to strongly consider the many benefits of apprenticeship.The funding will support the roll out of new apprenticeships in plumbing, carpentry, electrical, brickwork, motor painting and decorating, vehicle body repair, fitting, toolmaking and wood manufacturing and finishing.<h4>Third level</h4>The Government is aiming to increase the numbers choosing “earn and learn” options to one in five school-leavers over the coming years. Ireland still has one of the highest proportions of school-leavers progressing to third level in the world, and one of the lowest proportions opting for apprenticeships.Numbers choosing apprenticeships are growing, however, and have recovered from a dramatic fall-off during the economic downturn.Mr McHugh said the new funding would enable colleges to provide apprentices with training in the most up-to-date techniques, including sustainable and renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy and energy efficient construction methods and materials.Some 6,500 apprentices are expected to undertake training in an institute of technology or Technological University Dublin in 2019. It is estimated that by 2020 Ireland will have more than 70 different apprenticeships on offer, with awards ranging from certificate to PhD level.Apprenticeships are programmes of structured education and training which combine learning in the workplace with learning in an education and training institution. They are typically between two and four years long, and participants are paid for the duration of their programme.Learners tend to earn between between €11,000 and €32,000 a year for the duration of their apprenticeship depending on the nature and length of the programme.<h4>Options</h4>A recent survey indicates that most young people would consider taking an “earn and learn” apprenticeship as an alternative to the more expensive option of college. However, only a minority – 18 per cent – believe there are currently enough apprenticeship options available to choose from.The research, commissioned by the Insurance Institute and undertaken by Empathy Research, surveyed about 300 young adults on their perceptions of apprenticeships.The findings also show that just over half of parents would encourage their child to undertake an apprenticeship.While third level remains the most popular option, parents stated that the cost and affordability of college was their main worry, with job prospects also a concern with regards to their children’s third-level education.<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/number-of-school-leavers-going-for-apprenticeships-doubles-1.3912758">Original Source here.</a>

Number of school-leavers going for apprenticeships doubles

By Claire Murphy WOMEN and recent retirees are now being targeted for heavy plant machinery construction jobs as the building boom continues unabated.With all building activity in Ireland up 10.1pc year on year, industry experts have said that there is a crisis in recruitment for machine operators – with an estimated 1,500 vacancies in the sector.Niamh Hamrock and she is the CQMS Event Organiser (CQMS is where women can go and try out the simulator machine). Pics are repro free and by Lorraine OSullivan Photography.Brian Coogan of the Construction and Quarry Machinery Show said that technology has developed so quickly that muscle and brawn are not necessary attributes for the job.“One manager rang me in sheer desperation that he can’t get anyone to fill a particular role. With a salary of €50,000+ he couldn’t understand it. I told him to start thinking outside the box, stop looking at young, male candidates as his only option, to start looking at recruiting female candidates,” he told independent.ie.“I don’t believe carrying bricks or blocks is beyond the scope of women.“But (plant operator jobs) are not so much about strength, it’s about capability and ability to understand technology.“The job is not defined by whether the candidate is male/female, old/young.“I know of a windfarm in Kerry, where they employed a man aged 71-years-old on a 21 tonne digger.“Another man in a quarry in Wicklow is in his 80s, driving a machine.”Mr Coogan said that more Irish firms are looking to the example set by the likes of Western Australia, and fill traditionally ‘male roles’ with female candidates.“In Western Australia, they couldn’t get enough people to work in the mines, where there was great money – up to $2,000 a week. A lot of young girls, in their late teens and early 20s, applied for jobs.“They found that the female employees took better care of the equipment, were much more responsible. This is very important in terms of an asset that is worth hundreds of thousands of euro.“It’s more about the technology than the grunt of lifting heavy machines,” he added.Mr Coogan said that they will have a simulator in situ at an event in Punchestown, Co Kildare between June 21 to 22.The CQMS show – which will feature talks from Construction Industry Federation Tom Parlon and economist Jim Power - will offer buyers and sellers an opportunity to see the latest equipment from Irish dealers, distributors and manufacturers as well as connect potential employees with employers.<a href="https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/women-and-retirees-now-being-targeted-for-heavy-plant-machinery-construction-jobs-38174633.html">Original Source here.</a>

Women and retirees now being targeted for heavy machinery construction jobs

<h3>The North Wall Community Development Project (CDP) are running a 10 month full time Sports course commencing on June 10th and are looking for participants.</h3>Gain a QQI Level 4 Major Award in Sport &amp; Recreation through the course that runs Monday to Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm (Half-day every Friday).Participants will attend Sports related class and train daily in the hope of progressing into a Career in Sport.The 44 week course will consist of 8 Sport Related modules. Along with the education aspect of the course, participants will train every day in a variety of sports and face regular fitness tests &amp; challenges. Daily training sessions including Football, Basketball, Gym, Kayaking, Water polo, Cycling, Mountain Climbing, Gaelic football, Rugby, HockeyTrainees will receive a weekly training allowanceContact Gerry: 083 - 303 27 54or Amy on (085) 812 3889 or email hello@nwcdp.ieTrain every day ✔️Gain great Qualifications ✔️Achieve a QQI Level 4 Award ✔️Get paid every week ✔️Get really fit ✔️Gain full time employment ✔️Progress to 3rd level education ✔️

Gain a QQI Level 4 Major Award in Sport & Recreation

In a press release today, the Irish Government have announced a further €7.5 million to support Apprenticeship / Earn as you learn Programmes. This brings the total capital funding allocated to support the modernising of craft apprenticeship programmes in the sector since 2017 to more than €23 million. This is particularly great news for students who are just about to start their Junior &amp; Leaving certificates this week.At JobAlert.ie we&#39;re great advocates of the Apprenticeship / Earn as you Learn options and we&#39;re delighted to see that there has been an 80% increase in registrations between 2015 and 2018. We are however receiving feedback from our followers, that they&#39;re having difficulty finding suitable vacancies once they have made up their mind to pursue an Apprenticeship. So Employers, If you currently have an apprenticeship vacancy (for 1st Year Apprenticeships) please contact JobAlert.ie on info@jobalert.ie and we will advertise your vacancies for free right now! Press Release; 03 June, 2019 - Government announces €7.5 million capital funding to support Apprenticeship Programmes. Focus on new technologies, sustainable methods and materials and modernising traditional craftThe Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D., together with the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development John Halligan T.D. today announced capital funding of more than €7.5 million for nine Institutes of Technology and the Technological University (TU) Dublin.The funding forms part of the Government’s commitment, under Project Ireland 2040, to increase investment in higher and further education and training and to the modernisation of equipment available for craft apprenticeship provision.Minister McHugh said: “The Government is deeply committed to expanding the apprenticeship system and this investment reaffirms that. Ensuring that our young people and those retraining have access to cutting edge equipment and the latest thinking on sustainability is key to further developing this increasingly-popular option for training and progression.“There was an 80% increase in apprenticeship registrations between 2015 and 2018. This €7.5m funding will enable Institutes of Technology and TU Dublin to purchase new equipment and update their infrastructure.“Apprenticeships offer fantastic opportunities and I would encourage any person looking at their career options, especially students preparing to sit exams this week, to strongly consider the many benefits of apprenticeship.”Today’s announcement brings the total capital funding allocated to support the modernising of craft apprenticeship programmes in the sector since 2017 to more than €23 million.It is being provided by the Department of Education and Skills through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).This funding will support the roll-out of new syllabi for apprenticeships in Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical, Brickwork, Motor Painting and Decorating, Vehicle Body Repair, Fitting, Toolmaking and Wood Manufacturing and Finishing.It will enable Institutes of Technology and TU Dublin to provide apprentices with training in the most up to date techniques, including sustainable and renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy and energy efficient construction methods and materials.The equipment needs have been identified by the HEA, in conjunction with SOLAS. 6,500 apprentices are expected to undertake training in an Institute of Technology or TU Dublin in 2019.Minister Mitchell O’Connor said: “I am delighted that over €7.5 million is being invested to support the modernisation of the syllabi and to purchase new equipment for our apprenticeship programmes in our IoTs and TU Dublin. It will ensure that our apprenticeships have the best possible experience, keep pace with new methods and technologies in the workplace and are trained to the highest level possible.”Minister Halligan said: “This Government is committed to more than doubling the number of new apprentices registered and the number of apprenticeships on offer over the lifetime of the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship. Budget 2019 allocated €142m for apprenticeship training, an increase of over 16% on the previous year. This will allow for the delivery of 10 more apprenticeship programmes and over 7,000 new apprenticeship registrations in 2019 alone.”Notes for Editors:The breakdown of how the €7.5m is allocated across Institutes of Technology and TU Dublin and across apprenticeships is set out in the table in this link: <a href="https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2019-press-releases/PR19-06-03.html">https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2019-press-releases/PR19-06-03.html</a>ApprenticeshipApprenticeship is a programme of structured education and training which formally combines and alternates learning in the workplace with learning in an education and training institution. An apprenticeship prepares participants for a specific occupation and leads to a qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications. Since the 1970s it is estimated that over 105,000 apprentices have been trained in Ireland. The current apprenticeship population now stands at 16,000.Building on the Programme for Government, the Action Plan for Education contains a commitment to enroll 31,000 people on apprenticeship programmes in the period 2016-2020. The Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 sets out a series of detailed actions and annual targets to enable the Action Plan for Education commitments to be met. In 2018, 5,648 new apprentices were registered.To date, following the Apprenticeship Council’s two calls for proposals in 2015 and 2017, 20 new consortia led apprenticeship programmes have been developed. These new programmes span a variety of sectors ranging from financial services and ICT to hospitality. Further new apprenticeships are due to get underway in 2019 and 2020 in various areas including construction, engineering and hairdressing.More articles from JobAlert.ie about Apprenticeships;Leaving Cert, Degree or Apprenticeship?<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/leaving-cert-degree-or-apprenticeship">https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/leaving-cert-degree-or-apprenticeship</a>Bar Manager’s Degree Apprenticeship<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/bar-manager-s-degree-apprenticeship">https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/bar-manager-s-degree-apprenticeship</a>FIT Cybersecurity Apprenticeship<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/fit-cybersecurity-apprenticeship">https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/fit-cybersecurity-apprenticeship</a>Search Jobs here; <a href="www.jobalert.ie">www.jobalert.ie</a>*Terms &amp; Conditions for free Ads, The Apprenticeship Vacancy must be for a 1st year Apprentice and Ads must be placed before 13th August 2019 when the Leaving Cert Results will be released. 1 Free Ad per Client/Company <h1></h1>

Students urged to consider Apprenticeships as a Career Choice

A new survey shows that 57% of office workers here believe that a four-day working week is likely in the near future as technology makes work practices more efficient.The study, by technology company Ricoh, also found that Irish employers are lagging behind their UK counterparts in facilitating flexible working options for employees. Only 41% of Irish workers who were surveyed felt that their employer frequently adapts working practices to their needs, in comparison to 54% of their UK counterparts.This sentiment is felt across all generations of the workforce in Ireland with less than half of workers agreeing that their employers are doing enough to keep up with evolving employee needs. Today&#39;s study also found that 43% of Irish workers expect all or part of their roles to be automated within the next five years as a result of technological advancements.It also revealed that salary, flexible working hours, learning opportunities and a work-life balance are the top priorities for workers when looking for a job.Chas Moloney, director at Ricoh Ireland &amp; UK, said the concept of the traditional workplace has changed significantly in recent years. &quot;Interest in and appetite for a four-day work week is growing - people want to work less hours but be more effective and productive with the time they spend working,&quot; Mr Moloney stated.He said it was &quot;very disappointing&quot; that Irish business leaders are not recognising this trend and adopting more flexible ways of working to motivate, encourage and retain staff. &quot;A happier workforce often equates to increased employee productivity, business performance and company growth,&quot; he added.He said that if Irish business leaders are to succeed and make the concept of the four-day work week a reality, they need to enable individual workstyles with the right technologies and agile approaches. &quot;Otherwise, they could find themselves struggling to attract, keep and empower people,&quot; Mr Moloney cautioned.The research, commissioned by Ricoh Europe and conducted by Coleman Parkes, involved 4,580 office workers from across 24 countries, including 150 from Ireland.Looking across the Seas....Until 1908, US workers worked six days a week. All of that changed when a New England mill was the first to give it&#39;s employees Saturday off, allowing their Jewish workers the ability to observe their Sabbath. The five day work week continued to grow in popularity through 1926, when Ford became the first major employer to adopt the schedule. From then on, the five day work week became a standard.The five day work week is supposed to consist of eight hour days, ultimately creating the 40 hour week for full-time employees. However, more than 50%of those full-time employees spend more than 40 hours per week at the office. Most U.S. employees are known to waste time while at work. Many millennials even refuse to leave the office, despite being done with their work and hitting 40 hours, out of fear of being seen as replaceable. Which is why the trend of millennial work martyrs continues to grow. Despite the advice from the experts on the importance of prioritizing relationships or vacation days, most U.S. employees continue to spend too many hours chained to their desks. All that time on the job, also comes with a host of dangers to one’s health. According to several studies rounded up by Investment Zen, people who are overworked have a 33% increased risk of stroke, double the chances of suffering from depression and anxiety, 112% increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, and 13% increase in heart problems. Begging the question, do employees really need five days chained to their desk to get the job done?Licensed clinical social worker, Sarah Herstich, shares “an adult’s attention span lasts from 15-45 minutes.” Employees need breaks throughout the day and the week to maintain productivity and re-engage while at work. Otherwise, employees begin to develop bad habits to waste time. The average employee checks their inbox 36 times in an hour. Furthermore, employees waste about 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings. Sitting in a meeting may not seem like someone is developing a bad habit, but often times during those meetings employees spend the majority of their time daydreaming or complaining. These unproductive habits have been known to spill into normally productive hours, which could be why more and more companies are adapting shorter work weeks.The reality is, taking a day out of the office doesn’t just benefit the employees, it benefits the company as well. The State of Utah implemented a 3-day weekend for state employees. After 10 months, they were able to save $1.8 million in energy costs. Other companies, like San Francisco based startup iBeat, used the 3-day weekend to recruit top talent. The 3-day weekend has also been linked to reducing time off requests by 9% and increased overall productivity. KFC Japan was able to retain more employees, particularly stay at home moms, after implementing a 3 day off initiative. The ability to recruit and retain top talent is a massive cost saver alone.The 3-day weekend is a growing trend in Japan, UK, France, Sweden, and the US. The CEO of Basecamp, Jason Fried said, “better work gets done in four days than in five.” If you or your employer are still hesitant to give the 3-day weekend a try, start slow. For instance, only the first or last Friday of the month. See how things go. Many companies who have implemented a 3 day off initiative, will allow employees to choose either Friday or Monday in to keep the office going five days a week. Get creative with a schedule that benefits everyone.Sources of articles;Forbes &amp; RTE News

57% of Irish office workers believe 4-day working week is on the way

So many inquiries coming in from people who want to work during their summer break and it’s great! So, if you’re an employer offering entry level seasonal work, give us a shout asap and we’ll advertise your vacancy for FREE. If you know an employer offering summer jobs please pass on the word! Email info@jobalert.ie for more information.Are you looking for a summer job/part-time job but you have no work experience? <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-get-a-summer-job-with-no-experience">Read our step-by-step guide</a> on how to solve this problem.Included in the guide are links to Free CV &amp; Cover Letter Templates that we have been designed for those without any experience. Click <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-get-a-summer-job-with-no-experience">here for the full guide.</a>Terms and conditions:Roles advertised must be entry level positions/no experience required specifically for the summer months – June until August 2019. Each job will be reviewed and will be approved based on its validity to the criteria above.Each employer will be allowed one job advertisement.The job advertisement will expiry 7 days after being published.Offer ends the 14th of June 2019.

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Director & Chief Biscuit Dunker

Sean Breen

At an event last year as a guest speaker, I spoke about a “barrier to employment” that took me by surprise back in the late 80’s when I left Secretarial College. I was advised by the FAS office to think about taking the ‘Ballymun’ address off my CV and maybe use a relation&#39;s address instead to give myself a better chance at getting an interview. An interview for work experience, I might add considering that we were at almost 17% unemployment at the time. On the bus home from Westmorland Street I was trying to think if I had any Posh Aunties with &quot;nicer address&quot; than mine!I&#39;d hate to think that prejudices like this still exist today, but can only imagine how it feels for a person who has to put a Hotel, B&amp;B or Emergency Accommodation address on their CV or application form if they are looking for a job!We&#39;d be interested to hear what other people have to think or if anyone has experienced this very situation.According to latest figures from the Peter McVerry Trust, the official homeless figures for April show a total of 10,378 people accessed emergency accommodation last month.

Try Putting a Hotel Address on Your CV - Barriers to Employment

By Art MarkmanIf you are a recent college graduate, chances are you have taken several classes that you believe will help prepare you for your first job. Unfortunately, most of what you need to succeed in your work involves skills you never took a class to acquire. And that can complicate the application process.When you look at the qualifications for entry-level jobs, many of the items on the list may be things you have not yet encountered. Even when your new job involves technical skills that were covered in your classes, your future employer will likely use tools you haven’t seen before and rely on processes that go beyond what you studied.However, and this is important, just because you don’t have all of the qualifications doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for that job.One story I tell in my book, Bring Your Brain to Work, is that my oldest son, who was right out of college, was given an opportunity to apply for a position at a firm that normally was given to people with a few years of experience. He asked me what to do, and my response was that “If you’re completely qualified for the job you apply for, you aimed too low.” He ultimately got the role — and despite having a lot to learn, he has done well.Organizations expect people who are new to a role (and particularly people who are new to a firm) to grow into the position. They want new hires to ask a lot of questions, to seek out mentoring, and to even make a few mistakes as they get acclimated to a role.That means that you should look for positions that will stretch you, not ones where you can already tick all the boxes.Unfortunately, many people (particularly women) focus on potential jobs for which they are already overly qualified. There are upsides to doing this: they will “hit the ground running,” which often makes an employer happy and can boost the person’s self-confidence. But it’s unlikely the job will lead to much growth and being stagnant in a role can make it hard to transition to the next position. In particular, an upward trajectory in the workplace requires consistent acquisition of the set of skills needed to take on the next position. Learning these skills when you’re in a position for which you are overqualified will require that you learn “off the clock” rather than incorporating learning into the daily performance of your job.One factor that often holds people back from applying for jobs is imposter syndrome, which is the feeling that you’ve risen to a position you haven’t earned or deserve. People who experience this syndrome worry that if others knew how unqualified they were for their position that they would not be able to keep their job.But imposter syndrome is typically a farce. You can’t see other people’s thoughts so you may assume that they have a higher degree of confidence in their abilities than they probably do. Because of that, you don’t recognize how many other people have also had to learn significant new skills on-the-job, and so you shy away from positions for which you feel unqualified.Instead, it’s valuable to treat new positions as a challenge. Research by Carol Dweck and her colleagues develops the concept of a growth mindset, which argues that the best way to maintain an orientation to continue learning is to treat difficult tasks as a lack of skill (which can be acquired) rather than a lack of talent (which cannot). Organizational psychologists theorize that growth mindsets also lead to engagement with work.Practically speaking, it’s useful for almost everyone to treat job ads as though they are a set of guidelines about what a position involves, not a strict list of requirements that any applicant must have. It is important, of course, to have at least some of the skills a job requires up front. But nobody should limit themselves only to positions for which they are already overqualified.<a href="https://hbr.org/2019/05/you-dont-need-to-meet-every-qualification-to-apply-for-a-job">Original source.</a>

You Don’t Need to Meet Every Qualification to Apply for a Job

An urgent appeal has been issued for teachers to correct Leaving and Junior Cert exam papers with less than a fortnight to go before the examinations begin.Examiners are urgently needed for nine Leaving Cert and 10 Junior Cert subjects in what has become an almost annual emergency.The exams begin on June 5 and recruits have to be ready to provide almost four weeks of full-time work beginning June 11 at the earliest when the first of a series of training sessions take place.Ideally, applicants should be teachers or retired teachers but others with third-level qualifications will be considered. Payment varies depending on the subject, level and length of paper but rates go from just under €5 to over €30 per paper.The State Examinations Commission (SEC) said the rates were being increased by 2% this year and the pension-related deduction, which usually takes 10.5% off, is being scrapped.Subjects with pressing shortages are Leaving Cert Business, French, German, English, geography, Spanish and home economics, and Junior Cert maths, science, Irish, German, Spanish, history, geography, business, home economics, religion and CSPE.But applicants in all other subjects are also being invited to apply to fill vacancies that are likely to arise when other applicants drop out.For more information and to apply visit the State Examinations Commission&#39;s careers page<a href="https://www.examinations.ie/?l=en&amp;mc=re&amp;sc=ei"> here.</a>Source: Irish Examiner 24th May 2019

Urgent appeal issued for teachers to correct Leaving and Junior Cert papers

Male employees of Diageo Ireland will soon be able to avail of 26 weeks fully paid paternity leave.The drinks company says that the new leave policy is part of its efforts to create a fully inclusive and diverse workforce.Its new global policy guarantees all its female workers a minimum of 26 weeks full paid maternity leave.A global minimum standard of four weeks paternity leave is also being set, but in certain markets, including Ireland, 26 weeks fully paid leave will be on offer to new fathers.The leave will have to be taken within the first twelve months of a child’s life.Last month the firm announced that all its employees in the UK would be eligible for the same fully-paid 26 weeks, including benefits and bonuses.Companies are increasingly coming under pressure to improve their policies to make them more family friendly, in order to attract and retain talent.New rules are due to come into effect here later this year, offering parents an extra two weeks’ paid leave at €245 per week during the first year of a child’s life on top of existing entitlements.Parental leave for parents of eligible children will also increase from 18 weeks to 22 weeks from September 2019 and from 22 to 26 weeks from September 2020.The age of children that parents can take parental leave for will also rise from 8 to 12 years of age.The new Diageo Ireland policy kicks in here on the 1st of July and applies to all those working for the firm here, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or how people become parents – via birth, adoption or surrogacy.&quot;Today’s announcement is a significant step for us and shows our commitment to leading the way with progressive employment policies by supporting gender equality in the workplace,&quot; said Oliver Loomes, Diageo Ireland Country Director.<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0522/1051024-diageo-ireland-to-offer-26-weeks-paid-paternity-leave/?fbclid=IwAR37ktaSoZtYPUj5XcSVmQSaEeNmuk3tAzGigXz-dqdlaVQTOzLD13GirD4">Original source. </a>

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