A new advertising campaign aims to highlighting the vital contribution made by employers in providing employment opportunities to apprentices.
The Department of Employment and Learning’s ApprenticeshipsNI advertising campaign focuses on the benefits of the programme to employers.
Speaking at the campaign launch Dr Stephen Farry said:
“There are over 11,000 apprentices employed across a diverse range of industry sectors and occupations in Northern Ireland. These employers understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business with increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force. Apprenticeships deliver skills designed around business needs, providing the skilled workers employers require for the future. They also help organisations develop the specialist skills required to keep pace with the latest technology. We need to get the message out to all our employers that apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent or indeed train an existing employee.
“ApprenticeshipsNI is a work based training programme designed around the needs of employers. It leads to recognised qualifications and the skills that work best for business. This campaign endeavours to build on our previous promotions, to engage with and motivate more employers to avail of the benefits of taking on apprentices.”
The campaign will take the form of television and press ads as well as outdoor and online advertsing.
Endorsing the ApprenticeshipsNI programme, Paul Hamill, Head of HR at technology company, Kainos said: “Kainos has provided young people through the ApprenticeshipsNI programme with the opportunity to develop skills, achieve qualifications and enhance their career prospects in a stimulating IT environment. The programme has helped us train and develop the apprentices we need for the long term success of our business. Our apprentices add to our organisation making it more effective, competent and competitive by addressing our skills gaps directly.”
To find out more about the programme visit http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsNI or call the dedicated freephone helpline on 0800 028 4161.