Build your company talent pipeline with the Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeships

Trish Breen

Medtech & Polymer Apprenticeships Project Manager

Manufacturing engineering apprenticeships – learn how they can help to build your talent pipeline.

Apprenticeships can be a great recruitment tool for your company, but many are finding that the programmes offer much more besides. The apprentices are placed straight into practical working environments, so they add business value very quickly and they integrate into the companies really well.

Nationally, the majority of apprentices are achieving, on average, 10%-20% higher results than the corresponding full-time students, and the engagement of students with laboratory and class work is exceptional in comparison to other undergraduates.

What a manufacturing engineering apprenticeship offers

Manufacturing engineering apprenticeships are suitable for a hugely diverse manufacturing and engineering environment. Developed by the Irish Medtech Association (an Ibec sector) – along with a strong industry consortium and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology as the lead provider – these apprenticeships open doors to medical technology, engineering, polymer, pharma, food, machinery, construction and ICT sectors.

Apprentices have the chance to build aerospace components with the likes of Eire Composites, or contact lenses with J&J Vision. Opportunities exist across medtech, agri tech and other sectors. The scheme is already supported by large companies such as BD Medical, DePuy Synthes and Stryker, and 41 small-to-medium companies (e.g. Cambus Medical, Caragh Precision, Key Plastics), supporting 186 apprentices.

How long are the courses?

The two-year Technician (Level 6) or three-year Engineer (Level 7) apprenticeships involve 15 weeks a year in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Cork Institute of Technology, Limerick Institute of Technology or IT Sligo. The remaining 37 weeks of the year are spent with the employer.

Manufacturing and engineering sector Ireland

Our ambition is for Ireland to have an international reputation for manufacturing and engineering across all key sectors. We believe this can be achieved through sharing best practice, developing deeper cross-sectoral collaboration and choosing policies that strengthen our workforce. These apprenticeships are an excellent example of programmes that are helping to support these goals.

Next intakes 2020

The next Manufacturing Engineering intakes will start in July 2020 with the 15-week academic block starting in all locations in September 2020.