Council Supports Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2022

Newry Mourne and Down District Council is supporting Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2022. The Northern Ireland wide initiative, led by the Department of the Economy, seeks to demonstrate how apprenticeships work for individuals, businesses, communities and the wider economy.

From Monday 7 February to 11 February 2022, a number of virtual and in person events will take place across the District hosted by both of the Further and Education Colleges located within the Council area – Southern Regional College and South Eastern Regional College.

The theme for this year’s Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week is to highlight how future apprentices can ‘Transform their future with an apprenticeship’.  The aim is to demonstrate how apprentices can earn while they learn and become embedded within local businesses, whilst also showcasing and enabling local employers to ‘Transform their business with an apprentice’. An apprenticeship can improve the skills, earning potential and future career progression of participating individuals, and have a positive impact on the productivity of those firms taking on apprentices.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason said, “Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week provides an opportune time to consider the benefits of apprenticeships. They are a fast and reliable way to secure qualifications while being paid in employment, in addition to assisting local employers to fill a skills gap."

Cllr Mason continued, "The Council is working proactively with the Further Education Colleges and local training providers to actively promote apprenticeships as a viable pathway to create and sustain jobs within our local area.”

As part of the week, Southern Regional College will be holding the 'BIG Apprenticeship Event' and host a series of interactive ‘Q & A’ sessions while South Eastern Regional College will be hosting ‘Have a Go’ taster apprenticeship sessions and ‘Ask me Anything’ advice sessions for students, parents and employers. All events aim to offer a platform to school leavers, parents, employers and businesses on the various local opportunities available for obtaining qualifications, developing skills and securing employment right across the District. It also offers employers a platform to promote their Apprenticeship and Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) vacancies, as well as promoting their business and any other job vacancies – thereby bringing the two markets together.

For full details on the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week events visit the Southern Regional College link: https://www.src.ac.uk/courses/skills-training/apprenticeships-at-src  and the South Eastern Regional College: South Eastern Regional College Events | Eventbrite