Across the water in Northern Ireland, the apprenticeship landscape is flourishing. Yet, untold numbers of eager apprentices cannot get a foot in the door. This was the case for traditional apprenticeships, which rose from 5,811 learners in the 2018/19 academic year to 7,519 in 2023/24. Higher level apprenticeships in further education colleges more than doubled, increasing from 450 to 955 between 2015 and 2021. Even with the increase in registered apprenticeship opportunities, less than one in ten employers are currently utilizing apprentices. As such, many students remain at a loss for opportunities.
Colleges have seen a significant increase in demand for higher level apprenticeships, since their introduction back in 2018. At first, one community college offered only 40 learners, but that number exploded last year to 400. Nicole Cameron, a former OT with six years under her belt, is currently a higher level apprentice student. Here she writes about her experience and struggle breaking into her new industry.
“I sort of did things the wrong way around, finding the course first then had to find an employer,” Cameron said. Even with her background in health services, she discovered that businesses were intimidated by the prospect of hiring someone with her skillset. Ultimately, Cameron did land a job with FairyTales Wedding Specialists in Coleraine – proof that sometimes the door opens after you’ve knocked long enough.
Unfortunately, not all students are as lucky as Cameron in receiving a positive resolution. Meet Ryan Beggs Ryan, 19, has been attending apprenticeship classes at Belfast Metropolitan College for the last two years. As hard as he’s tried, no one would invest in his prospective career by hiring him. His mom — long-time Connecticut resident and high-powered education advocate Helen Marks — was enraged by the whole affair.
“Belfast Met were excellent and helpful in trying to help secure employment for Ryan,” she said. The emotional toll The whole ordeal has been an extremely stressful process for Ryan. He likes to hurry up and have everything arranged so he can come and receive his qualification.
Siobhan Lyons, an expert in apprenticeship programs, acknowledges the commitment required from employers to take on apprentices but emphasizes the substantial benefits it brings. “It is a commitment for an employer to take on an apprentice…but the benefits of that are huge in order to attract that pipeline of talent into their business,” Lyons stated.
The Department for Economy (DfE) says that apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular. They caution that the race to land one of these spots is getting much more competitive. A spokesperson from the DfE remarked, “Given the success and growing popularity of apprenticeships over the past number of years, this means that securing employment is more competitive than ever.”
Marks argues that the feds should be supporting and championing small and medium-sized businesses. Most of these businesses already operate on thin margins, facing extreme overheads and insurance burdens. “I think the government should be helping employers,” she said. She thinks a targeted, predictable form of support should be enough to move employers. This would allow them to recognize apprenticeships as a worthwhile investment rather than a nuisance.
Lyons was in alignment with this, emphasizing that it can be difficult for employers to traverse the apprenticeship system. “We are working with employers to help them navigate the space. It’s a complex system and it can be hard for employers to know where to start,” she said. And she is working to build partnerships between companies to generate more demand and need for apprentices.
Even with these challenges, organizations such as Workplus have seen applications double from last year. This reflects the increasing interest among all would-be apprentices, even as they encounter challenges in finding placements.
