Tech Apprenticeships could be the answer to the skill shortage.

Apprenticeships in the ICT Industry benefit Job Seekers, Employers and the Tech Sector as a whole. FIT Ltd through research have identified a well known skills gap in the Tech sector and have attempted to address these talent shortages with the introduction of the New National Tech Apprenticeship for Ireland. FIT Ltd identified that four year degrees just don't cut it when it comes to narrowing this skills gap, so other than upskilling professionals that are already in the industry, outsourcing talent, or using freelancers the key to addressing the skills shortages is to get qualified candidates into the workforce faster, voila............ ICT Tech Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships have been long thought of in Ireland as the route for those seeking entry-level employment in the craft industry, Mechanics, Carpenters and Electricians,and the like, but with the increased skills shortages in the Tech sector more apprenticeships are been created to narrow the gap faster than third level education can. FIT are also seeking to address the serious image problem that exists around further education and training in Ireland and show how apprenticeships are both a viable and attractive route to a career in your chosen profession.

FIT Ltd have worked hard to haul apprenticeships into the 21st century by creating a clear progression route both academically and in terms of career progression. Apprenticeships are not traineeships or internships; they are a "deep learning for a specific education". Irish people tend to define education attainment in terms of CAO points scored and and third level entry, we have one of the highest third level entries in the EU, but we tend to only value higher education, whereas for a lot of people from all backgrounds experiential and vocational training is more appropriate. Recent figures published in The Irish Times show that up to one in six students are not progressing past their first year in higher education, primarily because they have chosen an unsuitable course. Meanwhile their are major skill shortages in key areas of the economy like the ICT sector and youth unemployment still hovers at around 20%. This new Tech Apprenticeships are a game changer to the Irish education system, it is hoped that by giving students a practical application of learner alongside academia this will help reduce the rate of college drop outs.

Guidance counselling is crucial to the take up of Apprenticeships and FIT are working with secondary schools to bring counselors up to speed and to ensure that students are given information on apprenticeships, particularly given the major cultural shift that the increased take-up of apprenticeships will require of parents, teachers and students. Second level education in Ireland is designed for particular students with particular abilities capped with a memory test, there is no acknowledgement that people learn differently and that the points system doesn’t suit everyone, kinesthetic learner thrive in an environment where there is a practical application and these learners need to be made aware of the availability of apprenticeships and encourage to take this route to their chosen career. We also need to encourage more women to seek a career in the Tech Sector through an apprenticeship route by highlighting the exciting careers now available to them in this sector, it is no longer all about STEM and counselors need to highlight this. FIT hope to give them the tools, support and resources to do this effectively.

If you are interested in learning more about the Tech Apprenticeships or would like us to visit your school please contact me [email protected]. I would be delighted to hear from you. www.fit.ie @FIT Ltd