ANTRIM manufacturing firm Errigal Contracts has invested £6.5 million in its own training academy as it bids to address the skills shortage across the north's construction industry.
The company, which specialises in partition systems, external facade, recladding, interior fitout, ceilings and bespoke solutions, has been offering apprenticeship and undergraduate programmes since 2016 in response to the growing demand for a trained and skilled workforce across the industry.
It will now recruit its next intake of apprentices through its purpose-built training academy, and is encouraging anyone interested in a future career in construction to apply now.
It comes as new economy minister Paul Frew announced that his department is pumping £180 million into a further education scheme from this September in a bid to produce 20,000 traineeship places over the next seven years.
The NI Traineeship combines classroom learning and work-place training for people over the age of 16.
Six FE colleges are taking part, offering training in a range of areas and qualifications in engineering, plumbing, brickwork, retail, and hairdressing.
Meanwhile Errigal’s City & Guilds-approved training academy provides a range of different employment opportunities for its graduates.
Its apprenticeship scheme sees each student offered a full-time permanent position with Errigal after the successful completion of a two-year course, during which the student will also earn £32,000.
The apprenticeship includes Level 2 Diploma in drylining and a Level 2 NVQ in interior systems along with certificates in a number of other areas.
On completion of the apprenticeship students are guaranteed a full-time job with the company and also given guidance on finance management and practical life skills which will benefit them when working on projects away from home.
Errigal Contracts managing director Damien Treanor said: “We have developed our own training academy so we can ensure students are being taught the Errigal Way.
“Our commitment is to train and provide for the futures for young people in construction right across Ireland, the UK and Europe.”
The deadline for applications for the apprenticeship scheme is Friday July 16. More details at www.errigalcontracts.com or email careers@errigalcontracts.com
