The National Apprenticeship Office has announced its final call to people across the Donegal region to nominate their Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year 2024’ today, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 with nominations for the 2024 award competition set to close by Friday, June 14, 2024.
Now in its third year of celebrations, the 2024 Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awards will not only celebrate and showcase apprentices nominated to win a prestigious national award this December, but will celebrate and recognise hardworking apprentice talent and skills in Donegal and everywhere.
There is a 27,000+ strong community of hardworking apprentices, building rewarding careers with Apprenticeship, with the National Apprenticeship Office calling for nominations across Donegal to celebrate apprentices of all talents, backgrounds and abilities, including everyone from young impressive apprentices to older apprentice and career changers, to female apprentices breaking barriers in their field and much more.
Nominated apprentices will be assessed on their contribution and achievement in leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving with a record number of nominations wanted from Donegal and further afield to beat the 220 nominations in 2023. Nominations can be made by filling in a nomination form at apprenticeship.ie
The Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year ‘awards ceremony for 2024, will see 500 guests comprised of nominees, their friends, families, employers and special guests, attend the spectacular event in the historic Round Room of The Mansion House Dublin, this December.
Last year’s awards ceremony saw the first-ever female apprentice take home the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ title, with Cork-based Manufacturing Engineering apprentice Hazel Johnston (Du Puyes Synthes), still the reigning ‘Apprentice of the Year’ who was absolutely “shocked and thrilled” when she heard her name called as the overall “Apprentice of the Year” winner. Since winning the awards, she has been communicating her message in the media to encourage men and women across Ireland to discover their potential with apprentice and “just go for it’, demonstrating how they too can build a successful career with apprenticeship.
Commenting on her win last year, former DFHERIS Minister and current Taoiseach Simon Harris (TD) said: “Hazel and many other female apprentices pursuing their dream careers across Ireland with apprenticeship, should act as an inspiration to others considering the path they want to take in life.”
In addition to crowning the next ‘Apprentice of the Year’ for 2024, the awards will also award more outstanding apprentices through a series of special category awards, in industries like Hospitality, Food and Healthcare, Hairdressing, Finance and Insurance, ICT, Property Services, Recruitment and Sales, Manufacturing Engineering, Biopharma, Logistics and Motor, Electrical and Construction. Previous finalists awarded from Donegal include Brendan Giles, Manufacturing Engineering apprentice, (Abbott Diabetes Care, Lurganboy) and Kim Kelly, Hairdressing apprentice (Patrick Gildea Hairdressing, Letterkenny).
Nominees also have the opportunity to have a platform on The Heroes Stage at World Skills Ireland in September, where the nominees get the opportunity to inspire school leavers and potential apprentices with their inspiring apprentice journey.
Dr Mary Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office said: ”I was delighted to present last year’s national ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award to Hazel Johnson, our first-ever female ‘Apprentice Of The Year’ title winner, and each of the award 14 exceptional finalists from our inspiring community of dedicated apprentices. Apprentices are transforming the landscape of Ireland’s skilled workforce, bringing exceptional creativity and innovation, adaptability, leadership, fresh perspectives and a steadfast eagerness to learn that makes them valuable additions to any industry or workforce. We look forward to receiving nominations across the Donegal region and across Ireland by Friday, June 14th and finding the next deserving ‘Apprentice of the Year’ for 2024.
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