Limerick talent nominated for Apprentice of the Year Awards

NOMINATIONS for the Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice of the Year Awards 2024 have been announced, with 400 "outstanding" apprentices shortlisted.

Nominees, chosen from the approximately 27,500 apprenticeships nationwide, include some of Clare and Limerick’s most talented apprentices, who are in with a chance of taking home the “highly-coveted” national Apprentice of the Year title or an apprenticeship category award. 

Now in its third year, the prestigious awards showcase Ireland’s strong community of apprentices for outstanding leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.

24 apprentices in the Mid-West, whose attributes have shone through their work and learning, will face an independent panel of judges in October. 

As part of the awards process, nominees get the chance to participate in the Heroes showcase at WorldSkills Ireland, taking place in the RDS, Dublin.

“Nominees will take to the stage on the afternoons of Wednesday 25 and 26 September”, said Mary Liz Trant, director of the National Apprenticeship Office.

“We will have apprentices who include engineers, software developers, accountants, insurance practitioners, aircraft mechanics, farm managers, carpenters, electricians, chefs, and many more taking to the Heroes stage at the RDS where, in a one-minute presentation, they will speak about why they chose the apprenticeship route and what opportunities it is creating for them,” she continued.

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The Shannon region’s trailblazing nominees are drawn from all industry sectors, contributing to the growth, creativity, competitiveness of their chosen fields. 

A fine example of Limerick’s famous hospitality, up-and-coming chef Freddie Cullen has developed a reputation for “pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques and flavours” in the kitchen at the Dunraven Arms Hotel.

Ahead of the awards he expressed thanks for “this amazing opportunity" to represent his college and profession in these awards.

Community is at the heart of Yvonne Sheahan’s work in Ballyhoura Development CLG, where she works in finance. 

The apprentice accounting technician credits her mentor and her colleagues at Ballyhoura Development CLG for giving her “the opportunity to obtain a recognised professional qualification in accounting while building real-world experience with a supportive team”.

An apprentice plumber, Jack Bedford said of his work at Rael Contracts: “You don’t have to like it, you have to love it!”

With exceptional problem-solving skills, analytical thinking and attention to detail, he can easily find effective plumbing solutions in challenging situations – a set of skills that have seen him nominated for the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2024. 

All nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony in Dublin on October 23.