50 Apprenticeship Scholarships Available This Year with Údarás Na Gaeltachta

Údarás Na Gaeltachta is running its Apprenticeship Scholarship Scheme, for its 40th year.

There are 50 individual apprenticeship scholarships worth more than €2,000 per scholarship are available to assist people looking to learn a trade or undertake a new career.

Earlier in the year saw Údarás’ Spring call saw a significant increase in applications for the apprenticeship scheme, but there are over 20 scholarships available for qualifying participants. People who partake in this apprenticeship will get the opportunity to learn a new skill or trade or even upskill, the qualification is recognized by the National Apprenticeship Council.

The qualifications are awarded at Level 6 upwards following the national training framework Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Available apprenticeships

There are 59 different apprenticeships available from 14 different sectors, all recognized by SOLAS, in charge of the Further Education and Training sector.

Scholarships are available for the following sectors, biopharma, ICT, construction, logistics, electrical, motor, engineering, property services, finance, and more. There is a new focus on modern apprenticeships, like ICT, BioPharm, etc, while older trades like plumbing, carpentry, etc are still popular, new types of workforces are needed still.

There have also been two new sectors added in the forms of arboriculture and recruitment. Under this scheme, not only is the participant financially supported but the company/contractor that takes on the participant will also be able to get the support of over €2,000 for different stages in the training.

This applies to people who employ people through the apprenticeships to support applicants fluent in Irish gaining extra qualifications viable under SOLAS’s accredited Quality Assured Apprenticeships Schemes.

Speaking on this, the chairperson of Údarás na Gaeltachta Anna Ní Ghallachair said “The success of the scheme and our long-standing involvement with it indicates just how popular it is. There is a significant importance attached to the services provided by traditional Gaeltacht tradespeople to the public and this scheme also provides a practical route to achieve a successful career in more modern trades.”

The summer call for applications to the scholarship is open until the 6th of June, applicants must be over 16 and not in full-time education, visit www.udaras.ie to apply.