The Cork Apprenticeship Community gathered in Cork College of FET, Bishopstown Campus, last Thursday 13th February to celebrate the breadth of Generation Apprenticeship talent in Cork.

Nominees and award winners from recent national apprenticeship competitions were invited to Cork College of FET Bishopstown Campus, along with their employers in order to celebrate their achievement in completing on the national stage.

Apprentices who attended on the evening had participated in Apprentice of the Year and World Skills. Cork Apprentices had been nominated for the Apprentice of the Year competition which ran in November, across a range of categories including Hairdressing, Electrical, Property Services and Manufacturing Engineering.

Special celebrations were in order for Brother and sister duo Dale and Claire McGivern who were both nominated for Apprentice of the Year. Dale has just completed his Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship with Hanley Calibration. Claire is currently in the final year of her Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship works in Global Properties Ltd. and studies in Cork College of FET, Morrisons’s Island Campus

Also Celebrating on the evening were the Cork Companies who were nominated for Workplace Champion – an award which highlights the support given to apprentices by their employer during their off the job training as well as the employers of all nominees for Apprentice of the Year and World Skills Ireland Competitors.

Special celebrations were in order for Stryker who won two Workplace Champion Awards, winning two awards for:

• Lorraine Powell of Stryker Equality and Diversity Workplace Champion
• Mick Dreelan of Stryker won an Enabler/Supporter Workplace Champion Award

The evening was a chance to reflect on the growth of apprenticeship in Cork There are currently over 3,000 apprentices registered to Apprenticeship Services in Cork College of FET, Bishopstown Campus and nearly 1,000 employer supporting apprentices in their training across the city and county.

Speaking on the night, Valerie Cowman, Campus Manager Cork College of FET, Bishopstown Campus, congratulated all in attendance on their achievement. She said “Apprenticeship is a fantastic way to earn as you learn and develop your skills in your chosen field. All of you here today have shown excellence in your chose apprenticeship. To be nominated for these award is an honour in itself and shows your skill in your chosen craft as well as  leadership, creativity and problem solving skills. You are ambassadors for yourself, your employer and Generation Apprenticeship and show the very best of the education and training system”.

All Cork apprentices are supported by the Apprenticeship Services Department located in Cork College of FET, Bishopstown Camus. The team of Senior Training Advisors located in the Campus support all Cork apprentice and employers in their apprenticeship journey.