Fermanagh and Omagh District Council launches new Apprenticeship Hub

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Labour Market Partnership has partnered with early talent experts Workplus to launch a local Apprenticeship Hub.

The new pilot project is designed to better connect employers with early talent. The Fermanagh & Omagh Apprenticeship Hub simplifies the recruitment process for apprenticeships by connecting opportunities and applications in one online place.

Labour Market Partnerships, which create targeted employment action plans for council areas, are funded by the Department for Communities, and allow for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.

Employers from across the council area gathered at a launch event of the Fermanagh & Omagh Apprenticeship Hub where Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, described the pilot as a significant project in terms of making it easier for employers to connect with early talent as well as growing apprenticeship opportunities in the area.

Speaking at the event, Councillor O’Reilly said, “As a council, we are regularly speaking to businesses about current barriers to growth.  There is a common thread: the challenge of finding talent.

The Fermanagh and Omagh Apprenticeship Hub simplifies the recruitment process for apprenticeships by connecting applications in one online place.  It represents a collaborative effort between various stakeholders, including local businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organisations.  The partnership approach ensures that the apprenticeship programme is tailored to meet the specific needs and priorities of the Fermanagh and Omagh District area.

Apprenticeship programmes are crucial for providing valuable skills and opportunities to individuals while also meeting the needs of local businesses”

Workplus CEO, Richard Kirk, said the project would make it easier for both employers and early talent. He said, “Collaboration is key in addressing the current skills challenges. We are pleased to be working with the Fermanagh and Omagh Labour Market Partnership team and share their desire to make the early talent space easier to navigate for everyone. Through the Fermanagh & Omagh Apprenticeship Hub platform, employers can connect with local talent in one online place. For early talent, it’s a straightforward application process. For employers, they can easily filter according to the company’s needs.”

All businesses in Fermanagh & Omagh District Council area are invited to become part of this fully funded project. Deadline for businesses to join is 11 March 2024.

For aspiring apprentices, opportunities will be uploaded by 25 March 2024.

The launch of the Fermanagh and Omagh Apprenticeship Hub comes at a time when companies across Northern Ireland are experiencing significant skills shortages. Northern Ireland’s most recent Skills Survey said that over one fifth of employers had at least one vacancy which is impacting 96% of employers, most commonly increasing workload for other staff. Currently only 14% of employers in NI engage with the apprenticeship system.

For further information visit bit.ly/FOAppHub.