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The initiative was launched at the offices of Sligo-based civil engineering company, Jennings O’Donovan & Partners.
The National Apprenticeship Office initiative has been developed with Enterprise Ireland and apprenticeship partners, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board.
It will provide a range of tailored training and financial supports to Irish micro and small businesses who employ one or more apprentices in 2023.
These supports include onboarding assistance, a free online Mentoring Practice programme for employers gearing up to train apprentices, financial grants to subsidise training costs and ongoing guidance from the One More Job team during the first year.
Speaking at the launch the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said: “Supporting employers is a vital part of meeting our ambitious apprenticeship targets. I am delighted to launch One More Job alongside business owners and employers who are committed to fostering Ireland’s talent for the future.One More Job will enable small companies, shop owners and tradespeople access a range of supports to help their businesses thrive.”
Director of the National Apprenticeship Office Dr Mary Liz Trant said:“One More Job has been designed with small employers who have limited time to research and source talent and who have confirmed their interest in apprenticeships to grow their businesses. With 66 national apprenticeship programmes available and up to 10 more coming on-stream later this year, we need to ensure that the full enterprise community can access these opportunities. One More Job will assist our many small employers and micro businesses in Ireland to create that vital ‘One More Job’.
Small businesses with less than 50 employees make up over 95% of the 280,000+ businesses in Ireland.
Commenting on the initiative, Chief Executive of MSLETB, Tom Grady said: “The One More Job initiative is an excellent opportunity for small businesses in our region to avail of supports to help them grow and develop their workforce. MSLETB is committed to supporting apprenticeships and we welcome this initiative, which will make it easier for small businesses to access the benefits of the apprenticeship system.
“Apprenticeships offer a valuable way for young people and those changing careers to gain valuable work experience and training while earning a wage, and for small businesses to develop a skilled workforce that can help them grow and compete in their sector.”
Conor McCarthy Director of Jennings O’Donovan and Partners said: “We in Jennings O’Donovan are delighted to get involved in One More Job and use apprenticeships for the first time this year. We are confident that the talent we secure through apprenticeships will add greatly to our business, help us achieve our growth targets, and in turn help Government deliver on Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan 2023. We really like the industry-led aspects of the national apprenticeship system. We will be able to train and shape our apprentices on-the-job and they can look forward to great careers as engineers and designers.”
Meanwhile, also in Sligo, Harris announced a significant milestone in the proposed integration of St. Angela’s Colleges into Atlantic Technological University.
During a visit to St. Angela’s College, it was announced that approval has been given to allow the strategic case for capital investment to further facilitate the integration of St Angela’s College into the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) to progress to the next stage under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund Framework, (TSSPF).
Minister Harris said: “I am pleased to see that significant progress has been made in advancing the proposed incorporation of St. Angela’s into our new higher education powerhouse in the West / North West – Atlantic Technological University.
“The St Angela’s/ATU integration capital investment proposal has been successful in the first part of a strategic assessment process, and now moves to the next phase of the process which will see the development of a Preliminary Business Case.
“This will build momentum as the final stages of the incorporation agreement are nearing completion. I know all the parties are committed to ensuring a successful outcome in terms of the final agreement.
“My department and I are committed to capital investments that will significantly modernise and upgrade TU infrastructure and that will enable the ambitions of the TU agenda to be fully realised.
“The strategic capital investment proposal seeks to facilitate the integration of the St Angela’s College programmes into the ATU.
“It is envisaged that capital investment would deliver improved student experience and learner access with enhanced campus facilities and online provision.
“It anticipates increased research and innovation capacity and activity. Investment would also assist in improving estates efficiency and sustainability while also improving teaching facilities and staff working environments; and greater learner access to higher education through online provision.
“St. Angela’s College, Sligo has long been an important provider of initial teacher education and home economics, both in the West/North West and nationally, providing higher education across a range of other disciplines, too, including food and nutrition, health sciences, nursing, disability studies, textiles, fashion and design, science, biology and business.
“The capital investment proposal as envisaged will be a key enabler to facilitate the successful integration of St. Angela’s into ATU in due course leading to an enhanced overall Higher Education system in the North West with a more complementary range of choices for learners.”
Dr. Amanda McCloat, President of St. Angela’s College said:
“St Angela’s College has significantly expanded its student numbers in response to market demand, particularly in the fields of Home Economics, teacher education and nurse education.
“Consequently, we are delighted that the Minister has approved the progression of the joint strategic submission for capital investment to advance to the next stage of the TSSPF Framework which will provide much needed capital facilities on the campus to support this, and future growth, in student numbers.
“As we celebrate 70 years of education, we are excited about the next chapter in our journey with the integration of St Angela’s with ATU, one of Ireland’s largest Universities.”
Dr Orla Flynn, President of Atlantic Technological University said: “In ATU we have been working very closely with the team from St Angela’s for quite some time, making progress on a whole range of initiatives including the proposed incorporation.
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