2. Ann Gilton
City of Dublin ETB

3. Top Benefit and Top Challenge
One and the same!
Employer involvement at all stages of development, validation, rollout and now governance
Top Recommendations
Ensure employers on Consortium Steering Group are aware of and committed to their role and responsibilities in the development and rollout of a national programme
Prepare role for each participant at the validation and ensure employer leads

4. Declan Allen
School of Management,
TU Dublin

5. Top Benefit
Fantastic opportunity for collaboration with professional and representative bodies, employers and other key industry stakeholders.
Top Challenge
Hearing all voices while at the same time staying on point.
Top Recommendations
Ensure diverse membership of consortium. All members must have ‘skin in the game’.
Regular meetings to ensure momentum.

6. Gerard Mac Michael
GMIT

7. Top Benefit
Dual learning leads to deeper industry engagement relationships
Top Challenges
Convincing all staff that the apprenticeship mode of delivery would meet Programme Outcomes comparable to those of a F/T programme
Converting employer commitment to registrations
Top Recommendations
Build good relationships with programme manager and with collaborating partners - formalise
Ensure costing model can withstand lower numbers of students

8. Margaret Hynds O’Flanagan
CORU

9. As a reviewer –
Don’t assume all reviewers are within your field. Be clear and comprehensive, avoiding jargon.
Qualifications, skills profile and experience of supervisors should be highlighted
Where something is required, make sure your approach is clearly and succinctly explained.
Continuity of apprenticeship and plans to remediate disruptions are critically important

10. Peter Davitt
FIT

11. Top Benefit
FIT’s Tech Apprenticeship programmes, by fulfilling the rigor of QA approval required by QQI, provide school-leavers, job seekers and upskillers with a premium accredited ‘earn and learn’ alternative route to securing well-paid quality careers in Ireland’s thriving Tech sector.
Top Challenge
Being an apprenticeship Coordinating Provider requires FIT to engage with multiple stakeholders (ETBs, Apprenticeship Council, SOLAS, QQI, content providers, employers, training delivery partners, apprentices and the wider community). Managing these important relationships effectively necessitates the investment of much energy, time and dedication.
Recommendations
Set realistic programme development timelines. Designing and implementing the QA infrastructure required of a Coordinating Provider is a very significant challenge. In our experience a new apprenticeship can take months from concept to first delivery.
Ensure that your apprenticeship funding model is sufficient to support the development, quality assurance and early implementation. Enjoy and celebrate the small successes along the way. Developing apprenticeships is a long road and there will always be more challenges.

12. Peter Rigney
ICTU

13. Katie Haverty
ATI Apprentice

14. Top Benefits
Working and studying at same time
Great range of job exposure in the National Gallery of Ireland
Level of mentorship
Top Challenges
Time management
Managing programme requirements
Work, college and studies
Top Recommendations
Make sure Accounting is career for you.
Understand programme and ensure you can commit
Be organised
Prioritise planning your time e.g. homework early in the week and studying at weekends