The recent announcement by the Higher Education Minister Simon Harris that the CAO system could be reformed to include apprenticeships and other alternative paths to college is welcome news for the consortium of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship (LAA).
The LAA is Ireland’s first logistics apprenticeship for the sector developed by TU Dublin, school of business and led by industry experts and its professional representative bodies aimed at addressing the skills gap in the industry.
It has played a key role in helping to grow and develop talent and overcome the recruitment difficulties the sector has been facing in recent years by attracting new entrants as well as providing career progression opportunities for existing staff.
It has gained the strong support of the sector, and the number of employers offering logistics apprenticeship roles has been continuously grown since the establishment in September 2018.
Initially, 27 apprentices commenced their apprenticeship journey through TU Dublin with 17 employers on board in 2018, and since then 120 apprentices have been enrolled and 60 companies representing the shipping, freight forwarding, distribution, transport, and manufacturing sectors have become SOLAS approved Logistics Apprenticeship Employers.
Anna Gorecka, Project Managers for the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship said ‘whilst apprenticeship programmes will not compete against higher education programmes on the points system, having the logistics associate apprenticeship on the CAO form will create awareness and offers validity of the programme’.
The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship is delivered through the School of Business TU Dublin and Munster Technological University in Cork. Employers who take on apprentices also benefit from state incentives of €3,000 per apprentice.
Key Benefits of the Logistics apprenticeship for employers:
• Attracts new entrants into the business
• Upskilling opportunities for existing employees
• Increases a pool of qualified people within the business
• Build loyalty amongst staff
• Offers career progression opportunities
• Help with succession planning
• The programme is built around work-related experience and work specific projects
• Free QQI Level 6 certified Mentor training provided by TU Dublin and MTU Cork to work-based mentors
• Government-funded – reduces the training cost
Those interested in finding out more about the new apprenticeship scheme should contact 018447516 or email
