Mayor Supports North West Apprenticeship Programme

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Michaela Boyle, is supporting the apprenticeship programme in partnership with training organisations across the North West.

Apprenticeships offer the chance for young people to 'get paid, get qualified, get ahead' and are now gaining the recognition they deserve from industry insiders for the combination of qualifications with hands-on experience, in professional employment as well as manual jobs.

Councillor Boyle said the promotion of both educational and employment opportunities for young people across the area was a cause close to her heart and she wholeheartedly endorses the Council’s campaign which aims to raise awareness of the fantastic opportunities an apprenticeship can open up with a wide and diverse range of courses on offer.

She said: "Apprenticeships offer our young people the chance to get their foot on the career ladder of their chosen profession and gives them the room to build up their confidence and competence while allowing them to earn a salary and become accustomed to working life.

"I would encourage more of our young people to look at apprenticeships as a way forward – get paid, get a qualification, get ahead. It gives them the security of staying at home while they find their feet but it also opens up a whole new world of work and qualifications to them – with university still an option at the end if that is where it leads them.

"Apprenticeships show them all sides of a job so they are sure it’s the right direction for the rest of their working life.

"I would also urge more businesses in the council area to consider taking on apprentices as a way of ensuring you have the skilled workforce your company needs with dedicated and loyal staff, proud to be contributing to the local economy."

(CD)