Entrepreneur’s apprenticeship call

A leading Gaeltacht entrepreneur says that parents are putting far too much emphasis on university education for their offspring.

Instead, Barry Comerford – CEO of Cambus-Freudenberg in Spiddal – urged them to think seriously about apprenticeships ‘rather than overly focusing on the academic field’ .

He was speaking as the company he co-founded 15 years ago announced 40 new jobs – with built-in opportunities for further training and apprenticeship programmes.

“I am saying that parents should think seriously and positively about trade apprenticeships rather than overly focusing on the academic field,” said Mr Comerford.

His original Cambus Engineering company teamed up with the large German concern, Freudenberg, in 2013, growing into one of the top employers in the Gaeltacht.

Cambus-Freudenberg produces components that are integral to stents which help the function of bodily organs; these include heart stents.

The latest jobs to come on stream will bring the workforce up to 170 by the end of the year.

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