11/02/2009

ESB Takes On 400 Apprentices

The Electricity Supply Board is to take on 400 apprentices who were laid off by private sector firms.

The company, which is part owned by the state, is providing apprentices who lost their jobs before they completed their electrical apprenticeships with two-year fixed-term contracts from next month to allow them to complete their training.

The scheme, which will cost the ESB around €2m, is being welcomed by trade unions, who say it will help to keep people off the dole.

Announcing the initiative, ESB Chief Executive Padraig McManus said: "Without full qualifications, apprentices will not be able to work as electricians and their career opportunities will be far more limited.

"ESB Networks has the expertise and resources to enable the apprentices to complete their training and ESB staff are delighted to be able to assist in this very important initiative."

An ESB spokesman said the company had agreed a programme with FAS to begin offering on-the-job training opportunities to redundant apprentices from March.

FAS will write to all redundant electrical apprentices on its register, inviting them to apply for places and it is expected that the first 100 apprentices will have commenced the programme by mid April.

It is estimated that a total of 800 electrical apprentices have lost their jobs while training. As a result they are unable to complete the necessary on-the-job training aspect of their apprenticeship and therefore cannot achieve national craft accreditation.

(DW/JM)

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