Kildare secondary school seeks apprentice options for careers fair

THERE'S a growing interest in apprenticeships amongst second-level students as an alternative to university. The range of available apprenticeship schemes has also expanded widely from the traditional craft and trade areas. But often there's a breakdown in linking the students and the opportunities.

This year, a Careers Fair at Cross and Passion College (CPC) in Kilcullen seeks to include local businesses considering taking on apprentices. The event, on Tuesday, 23 September, will have the usual representatives from higher education colleges around the country present to showcase their courses. There will also be people in various professions available to talk to the students about possible career paths.

"But this year we also want to have local businesses there interested in taking apprentices," says Elaine McDonnell of the CPC guidance department. "In the last few years, there's been an increase in the variety of apprenticeships that students can do — there are now nearly 80 different opportunities out there."

Among those beyond the traditional manual and trade areas are accounting technician, auctioneering, engineering technical areas, insurance and financial services. 

"Ten years ago, most of these weren't even available. The difficulty is creating the linkage. Many potential employers don't advertise that they'll take on apprentices, nor do parents know about them, so we're trying to raise awareness at both levels."

The dropout rate in Irish third-level first year has now risen to 15 per cent, from 12 per cent pre-pandemic. Elaine McDonnell feels that offering the apprenticeship route could help lower this. 

"Students expect they have to go to third-level college, and parents want them to go. But college is not suitable for everybody, and this route can be more suitable for some students."

Apprenticeships offer the advantage that those taking them earn money while learning the essentials of their career. They must also complete studies at third level as part of the process. At the end of their apprenticeship in many areas, they can also take their qualifications to degree level if they wish.

The upcoming CPC Careers Fair will have around 400 students from the 4th, 5th and 6th Year cohorts attending. Elaine McDonnell would like local businesses considering apprentices to be there too. 

"Even if they're not going that route yet, but may be in two or three years, the younger students will be able to think about it."

For those businesses not able to make it to this year's Fair, the CPC Guidance Department would like to hear from them anyway, with a view to including them on an Apprenticeship Employer Database. The email addresses are elainemcdonnell@cpckilcullen.com or grainneduffy@cpckilcullen.com.