First grad class of manufacturing apprenticeship celebrated in Galway

A total of 29 Galway-led graduates made their own piece of history last week when they became the first cohort of manufacturing apprentices to complete a new route to their goal.

They have now succeeded in getting an engineering qualification by taking the apprenticeship route – a pathway that is brand new in Ireland.

They are the first class to graduate from the Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship (Level 6) – thanks to the Irish Medtech Association, the Ibec group which represents the sector, along with lead academic provider GMIT, the Higher Education Authority, and Solas, in Galway.

Ibec Medtech & Engineering Director, Sinead Keogh described the apprenticeship as ‘a radical modernisation from the traditional apprenticeships’ which offers new routes to high-tech manufacturing industries.

“I would like to congratulate the 29 graduates on their achievement along with participating businesses in Galway which includes Boston Scientific, Fort Wayne Metals and Zimmer Biomet. This unique programme is essential to future proof Ireland’s worldclass manufacturing,” she said.

Chair of the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Consortium Barry Comerford explained that the apprenticeship programme had given participants the opportunity to gain qualifications by studying subjects such as computer aided design, engineering science, and lean manufacturing.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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