Electrical apprenticeship centre opens at Drogheda College

John Donohoe

Published: Wed 30 Aug 2023, 1:56 PM

Ireland’s first Further Education and Training (FET) centre specialising in the delivery of the electrical apprenticeship programmes has opened at Drogheda College.

Established by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) and funded under the auspices of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the innovative Drogheda College Donore FET campus has been officially opened by Minister Simon Harris.

Demand for apprenticeship in Ireland is exceptionally high and Drogheda College Donore FET campus will deliver training for over 300 electrical apprentices annually. The €4.2m investment will also create up to 20 new permanent jobs in the region.

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science speaking at the official opening of Drogheda College. Photo by Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics

Minister Harris said: “We know we have skills shortages in this country, but today is another important step on the road to addressing that challenge. Today we are following through on our promise, investing in our young people and sparking their interest in the careers on offer here in electrical trades and more.

“This facility will make a valuable contribution to the availability of skilled workers in the construction industry, helping to achieve the ambition set out in the Government’s Housing for All plan.”

Minister Harris added: “I am particularly delighted with this facility, considering that a key recommendation of the Geiran Report in January 2021 was the requirement for more apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programmes in Drogheda. This is exactly what is being delivered here, and all in a state-of-the-art facility.”

The Hub represents more than a capital and educational service investment in Drogheda. As well as instructor jobs at the facility, other support positions are in place. This will lead to up to 20 permanent jobs in Drogheda.

Further indirect jobs will be created as the apprentices will need to avail of accommodation, services, and hospitality. It is anticipated that this facility will bring up to 450 additional visitors to Drogheda each year.

Martin G. O'Brien, Chief Executive, LMETB.

Chief executive, Louth Meath Education and Training Board, Martin O’Brien said: “LMETB is extremely proud to be the first ETB to establish an innovative FET centre uniquely dedicated at this time to the delivery of electrical apprenticeship training in Ireland.

“LMETB acknowledges and thanks Minister Simon Harris and his officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and SOLAS management for their support and investment in this unique concept.

“Drogheda College will be of enormous benefit to the young people of Louth and Meath and surrounding counties in addition to stimulating business development further in this region. I especially want to thank my team in LMETB for their hard work and dedication in the submission of our successful bid and then transforming this building into a reality in a 16-week construction period. We hope that our FET centre is a model that may be utilised by other training boards.”

Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS, said: “Today’s opening of the new FET College of the Future apprenticeship training hub in Drogheda is a significant development for learners and communities in the Louth-Meath region, but also an important milestone in the evolution of FET facilities and provision nationwide.

“The apprenticeship training programmes provided at Donore Campus by Louth Meath ETB will be essential in addressing skills gaps in the construction industry and in realising the Government’s Housing for All plan. A warm congratulations to my colleagues in LMETB and all of the apprentices that will receive their training in this new cutting edge facility.”

Martin G O'Brien, Chief Executive, LMETB, Apprentice Rachael Walsh and Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), working in partnership with employers, industry partners, SOLAS and the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science successfully secured support and permission for this innovative response to address the urgent need for craft apprentices.

The establishment of Drogheda College came about when SOLAS sought expressions of interest to develop standalone large scale electrical apprenticeship training centres. In 2022, the LMETB was the first education and training board to be successful in its bid to establish such a centre.

A group of Apprentices and Instructors with Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marti O'Brien, Chief Executive, LMETB, Philip Sheridan, manager, Drogheda College, Alanah Kirk, assistant manager, Drogheda College, Sadie Ward McDermott, director of further education and training, LMETB, Sinead Murphy, head of land and buildings, LMETB and David McDonnell, principal, Drogheda of Further Education (DIFE) at the official opening of Drogheda College.

Drogheda College is housed in a 2,170 square metre two storey standalone building occupying a strategic location north of Dublin with rapid access to the M1 corridor and close to local facilities in Drogheda. It will deliver eight separate electrical programmes delivered by a team of instructing staff.

Sadie Ward McDermott, director of Further Education and Training at LMETB, said: “Drogheda College is an innovative response that addresses the urgent needs of the construction sector and supports economic growth nationally. It will enable LMETB to grow and expand its FET capacity to deliver apprenticeships across the region and assist SOLAS in addressing the current national apprenticeship waiting list. It showcases best practice in quality assured teaching and learning strategies, with the equipment and facilities to support the delivery of high calibre apprenticeship training programmes for a modern dynamic workforce.”

As the first bespoke open plan training centre of excellence for electrical skills training, Drogheda College is aligned to the FET College of the Future concept. LMETB’s aim was for an unique centre that changed the image of training environments to a more modern, bright, progressive setting with a ‘wow’ factor for an enhanced training and learning experience.

Sadie Ward McDermott, director of Further Education and Training, LMETB with apprentice Ryan Young and instructor Martin Lynch at the opening of Drogheda College.

Philip Sheridan is the manager of Drogheda College and as former acting director of apprenticeships at SOLAS, and brings a lot of experience to his new role. He said: “Drogheda College holds a distinguished position within the framework of the Irish statutory electrical apprenticeship programme and serves as a pivotal launchpad for aspiring electricians. What truly distinguishes the centre is its incorporation of the competency centre concept, where apprentices not only amass technical expertise but also cultivate problem-solving skills and adaptability, vital traits in the ever-evolving electrical engineering landscape.

"By meticulously blending theoretical knowledge with immersive learning, Drogheda College ensures that apprentices are equipped not only with technical prowess but also the confidence to excel in their chosen field,” Mr Sheridan continued.

The establishment of Drogheda College is contributing to the Government’s Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 – 2025, which aims to deliver an apprenticeship system that is flexible and responsive, providing a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices.

Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) provides an extensive offering of FET provisions to over 15,000 FET learners every year, including 563 craft apprentices in 2022. The opening of Drogheda College FET centre will enable LMETB to increase capacity, projecting intakes of 754 apprentices in 2023 across nine craft apprenticeship trades, using existing facilities.