ESB announces 300 electrician apprenticeships

24 Feb 2015

Irish energy giant ESB is to create 300 apprenticeships over the next five years on the back of a €40m investment.

The apprentices will be given 23 weeks of training during a four-year electrical apprenticeship, with an additional 42 weeks spent in Solas and IT colleges, “and significant on-the-job training segments.”

“This programme is a critical part of the ongoing development and transformation of ESB. We are Ireland’s leading energy company, our staff are among the best in the world and are recognised globally for their skills in the energy sector,” said Pat O’Doherty, chief executive at ESB and chairman of the apprenticeship council.

“We want to continue to renew and develop this workforce, for our company and our economy. I am very pleased to announce that we will be recruiting 300 new apprentices on a phased basis over the next five years. This represents a €40m investment in the training and development of our future workforce.”

The recruitment drive is part of ESB’s plan to have the requisite skills available to maintain, develop and enhance its electricity system, “so that it meets the needs of modern Ireland”.

Given the widely expanding tech environment in Ireland, ensuring the relevant skill sets are created in the country is something many are concerned about. Industry-led initiatives such as this are a welcome route for future technicians to upskill and align themselves with what could become a pressing demand in the near future.

“Ireland is focused on areas where there will be greatest need, thus benefiting both employers – by providing a supply of skills appropriate to the evolving needs of the labour market, and apprentices – by ensuring their skills are relevant to future industry needs,” said Pat O’Doherty.

The deadline for applications is March 13.

Electrician training image via Shutterstock

Gordon Hunt
By Gordon Hunt

Gordon Hunt joined Silicon Republic in October 2014 as a journalist. He spends most of his time avoiding conversations about music, appreciating even the least creative pun and rueing the day he panicked when meeting Paul McGrath. His favourite thing on the internet is the ‘Random Article’ link on Wikipedia.

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