Electric.ie January/February 2022

ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 51 om blin T he development of the new programmes are intended to help deliver on the commitments made under the Programme for Government to support and drive the economy, while addressing the skills requirements identified across society. Speaking today, Minister Harris said: "I’m delighted to announce the development of these new programmes, which are a vital step towards increasing annual apprenticeship registrations to 10,000 by 2025. "In order to meet our targets we require an apprenticeship system that is flexible and responsive, providing a strong value Industry News 17 new apprenticeship programmes will be developed in 2022 ർ Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has just announced 17 new apprenticeship programmes will be developed during 2022. proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and which delivers high standards and sought after qualifications, therefore embedding apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development. "We now have 62 apprenticeship programmes. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021 despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and we have a further four programmes close to launch. People are responding to this variety and as of last week, we had over 8,000 new registrations this year. Across 2022, we will expand the system further, to create even more employment and learning opportunities for people." Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeships, the number of new apprentice registrations is to grow to 10,000 per year by 2025. The 17 new courses being developed over the coming year are in the areas of agriculture, engineering, construction, equine, finance, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics. In construction, people will be able to access a master’s level qualification in Quantity Surveying through the apprenticeship route. T his extends financial support to all apprentice employers for the first time, addressing a key barrier to employer participation in apprenticeship. Minister Harris said: We have over 62 apprenticeship programmes from engineering to accounting, hairdressing, biopharma. You can be an apprentice in your local retail centre or restaurant, an up- and- coming small or medium sized firm, or the multinational company around the corner. New €2,000 support for apprenticeship employers ർ Simon Harris TD has recently announced the introduction of an annual grant of €2,000 for employers who employ apprentices in one of the 37 apprenticeships that have been established since 2016. The new Employer Grant is funded in Budget 2022 and will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice per year for those apprenticeships which are not eligible for the payment of off- the-job training allowances. Its introduction means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the new employer grant. Effective from January 2022, this annual base grant will be paid to employers who employ apprentices in one of the 37 apprenticeships which have been established since 2016. The grant will be paid for each eligible registered apprentice during their employment with the company. Two payment points are planned per year - June and December.