Over 1,600 students visited Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s recent annual Apprenticeship Careers Showcase in the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa. Secondary school students from 38 schools across Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry attended the two-day event, along with parents, career guidance counsellors, career changers, and those looking to return to work.
The annual showcase featured representatives from Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET campuses who engaged with students on a wide range of areas, including engineering, hairdressing, aviation, welding, hospitality, F-gas, construction, blacksmithing and so much more. They encouraged students to try out a new skill in the interactive zones and spoke with them about how to get into their desired field.
Conor Ryan from Motor Technology Apprenticeship chats with students on Day 1 of the Apprenticeship Careers Showcase 2024
Senior Training Advisors from Limerick and Clare ETB, as well as staff from UL and TUS were also in attendance, offering helpful advice about everything apprenticeship-related. There was also an opportunity to attend informative apprenticeship talks with Senior Training Advisors, who encouraged students to think about their future, engage with the displays, and ask questions. This message seemed to resonate, as great interest was shown throughout both days.
Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Ailish Cunningham talking about her apprenticeship experience with a student visiting the Apprenticeship Careers Showcase 2024.
Speaking at the event, Acting Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare ETB, Donncha Ó Treasaigh said: “I’d like to offer a huge thank you to everyone involved with making this year’s Apprenticeship Careers Showcase such a fantastic success. Now, more than ever, there are so many fascinating apprenticeship routes in many different areas for our students to explore. To be able to highlight that at such a remarkable event was truly special. Helping our students and learners achieve the best in them and reach their full potential is at the heart of everything we do as an organisation, so I’m delighted we managed to inspire so many bright young minds over the two days.”
Hairdressing Traineeship learner Veronika Markova pictured inspiring students visiting Limerick and Clare ETB’s Apprenticeship Careers Showcase 2024.
There was also an opportunity for students to hear firsthand about the journey of an apprentice on the Apprenticeship Heroes Stage. Here inspiring apprentices, some of whom have received awards for outstanding work in their apprenticeships, spoke with great passion about their chosen fields and offered helpful advice for the future.
Instructor Chef Will King from the College of FET Hospitality Campus demonstrates butter sculpting to a visiting student at the Apprenticeship Careers Showcase 2024.
One of the apprentices who featured on the Apprenticeship Heroes Stage was award-winning commis chef Freddie Cullen who honed his craft at the College of FET, Hospitality Campus which is a renowned centre of excellence. He is also working as an apprentice commis chef at the Dunraven Arms Hotel. Freddie recently won an ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award and competed as part of the National Junior Culinary Team representing Ireland in February at the IKA Culinary Olympic Competition 2024 in Stuttgart.
Speaking about his experience, Freddie said: “From an early age I always wanted to be a chef. It was just about finding the right career path for me. I found the College of FET, Hospitality Campus in Roxboro and that was the right career path to the Commis Chef Apprenticeship. I’m finishing up in a few weeks and it proved the perfect option for me. I’m with the Dunraven Arms in Adare and they supported me all the way through my apprenticeship. It’s a great workplace and it was a great opportunity. Now I’ll be working there full-time as a fully qualified Commis Chef.” In February 2025 Freddie will be participating in the CATEX Chef Ireland, which is a national competition that offers an opportunity to progress to the next international competition in 2026 in Luxembourg. As for any advice Freddie would give students he answered: “I would say just get out there and get working and try stuff. Events like this are a great way for students to see and experience a lot of different aspects of life and work and I would say apprenticeship is a great way to do that too.”
To find out more about national apprenticeship programmes, visit generationapprenticeship.ie
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