Volkswagen Group Ireland has announced that it will support a new apprenticeship scheme run by Technological University Dublin that aims to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds gain a rung on the career ladder.
Leading Irish employers
Founded in 2018, the Access to Apprenticeship programme has helped nearly 100 young people, many of whom come from families with a history of intergenerational unemployment, gain hands-on experience with Irish employers with, in some cases, the participants going on to secure full-time apprenticeships.
Last month, Volkswagen Group Ireland signed up to the scheme, joining 40 other companies taking part including Jones Engineering, Joe Duffy Motor Group, the ESB, Dublin Aerospace and Irish Rail.
As part of the Access to Apprenticeship programme, students spend the first ten weeks of the course learning more about the job opportunities available to them before spending the final two weeks on work placement with their chosen employer. Successful candidates undertake four-year apprenticeships where they gain a qualification in their field while earning a wage.
Key to scheme's success
TU Dublin estimates that as the largest provider of craft apprenticeship education in the country with facilities for training motor mechanics, heavy vehicle mechanics and vehicle body repair apprentices, up to 30 per cent of Ireland's craft apprentices come through its doors.
Bobby Maher, manager of the Access to Apprenticeship scheme, says that having the support of employers such as the Volkswagen Group is key to the programme's success.
"I am really humbled by the investments our industry partners make in the lives of young people who have lots of potential but just need support to build their confidence," said Maher.
"Many of our students come from disadvantaged or marginalised communities. Their experiences of the labour market to date tend to be negative but we offer them tangible rewards. Many of the senior level industry mentors we deal with have come through the apprenticeship route so they know exactly how beneficial it can be."
Training opportunities at VW
In 2014, Volkswagen opened a new €2.5m, 20,000m² training facility in west Dublin in order to treble its training capacity to meet the requirements of its expanding dealer network. Thus far, the centre has been responsible for training more than 2,200 technicians.
Last month, the company opened the doors of the facility to allow students hoping to apply for an apprenticeship in the motor industry to get a feel for what training might involve, with exhibitions on topics such as advanced driver assistance systems and electric vehicle technology.
"One of our goals is to encourage more young people into the motor industry," said Vicky Halton, Irish head of group technical service at Volkswagen. "When you qualify as a Volkswagen Group technician you can take your qualifications anywhere in the world."
She said that with 83 dealerships across Ireland, there were plenty of opportunities in the Volkswagen Group for young apprentices living in Ireland or hoping to work further afield, a view echoed by her colleague, Volkswagen's head of group aftersales, Robert Guy.
"As a learning organisation with a strong footprint in apprentice schemes, Volkswagen Group Ireland is fully committed to the Access to Apprenticeships programme," said Guy. "For us, it's about delivering today while planning for tomorrow. Our focus on future qualifications for High Voltage Technicians coupled with long term demand for qualified combustion engine vehicle technicians, there has never been a better time to be an apprentice in the motor trade."