Apprenticeships: delivering work-based training and qualifications to employees

Company testimonies for apprenticeships

Guide

Apprenticeships - time to re-energise your business | Provided by the Department for the Economy

Many Northern Ireland companies have successfully trained their apprentices through the Apprenticeships programme and their businesses have reaped the benefits. Find out more below.

Kainos

Paul Hamill, Head of HR said:

'Kainos has provided young people through the Apprenticeships programme with the opportunity to develop skills, achieve qualifications and enhance their career prospects in a stimulating IT environment.

The programme has helped us train and develop the apprentices we need for the long-term success of our business. Our apprentices add to our organisation making it more effective, competent, and competitive by addressing our skills gaps directly.'

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE)

Joe O'Mahony, NIE Managing Director, said:

Many of our apprentices have attained additional skills, over and above their normal job roles. This has led to a multi-skilled workforce enabling NIE to improve productivity and business efficiency, meet government and regulatory targets, and deliver business benefits to the company.

A number of our senior managers started their career as apprentices proving that an apprenticeship provides an excellent platform for individuals to develop their career to the maximum potential."

Fusion Heating Ltd

Bill Cherry, Manager Director said:

'As a Small, Medium Enterprise business we need to be able to exploit all market sectors, and our apprentices, working through the Apprenticeships programme, are a vital part of the team in this regard.'

Phoenix Gas

Peter Dixon, Group Chief Executive, Phoenix Energy Holdings said:

'The Apprenticeships programme has helped us train and develop the apprentices we need for the long-term success of our business. Our apprentices add to our organisation making it more effective, competent, productive, and competitive by addressing our skills gaps directly.'

PwC NI

Paul Terrington, Regional Chairman of PwC in Northern Ireland said:

'In 2012, we took the lead in piloting the Professional Services Higher Level Apprenticeships alongside our more usual graduate recruitment and the results have been remarkably successful. The standard of applicants has been high and they have excelled in a challenging and demanding work environment, so we are now accelerating our Higher Apprenticeship recruitment through our school-leaver entry programme. Apprentices earn while they learn, gain an internationally recognised professional qualification in less time than it takes to graduate from university, and have a lifetime career opportunity within the global PwC network.'

How do I go about employing an apprentice for my business?

Now you've read real examples of apprenticeships benefiting real businesses here in Northern Ireland, why not get started on recruiting your own apprentice? Find out more at the following links: