Employers Urged To Back Apprenticeships

Training issues were debated in the NI Assembly this week after the Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey stressed the fundamental importance of apprenticeships to Northern Ireland industries – especially the construction industry.

He also called on employers to help stem the declining numbers.

During the debate the continuing decline of apprenticeships in the construction and manufacturing industries were discussed.

Sir Reg restated his commitment, and that of his department, to the support programmes that are on offer to apprentices and employers.

He said: "My department's training programmes help large numbers of young people move from education into the world of work.

"Last year alone it spent £51m on vocational training of which £12m was dedicated to apprenticeships.

"We are currently working towards a challenging target of 10,000 apprentices on departmental programmes by 2010.

"This was an important debate, not just for manufacturing but for all of our industries," he continued.

"There is an apparent decline in the number of apprentices overall and while my department can provide programmes of financial support for apprenticeship training, it is up to the employers to create the demand and to invest in the development of the skills necessary to grow their industries and make them competitive."

The Minister also said that the economy is not static: "Demand within certain sectors will increase, others will decline.

"The secret of our success will be to predict that change and to be flexible enough to react quickly.

"Training and development of our workforce is essential so that we have the indigenous skills, not only for our existing companies, but so that we can help attract more inward investment."

(BMcC)