Apprenticeship hiring in Northern Ireland 'more competitive than ever' as demand grows

Apprenticeship recruitment in Northern Ireland has grown more competitive even as programs expand, with families and college officials saying government incentives are needed to help employers take on trainees. Ryan Beggs, a Belfast teenager, has spent two years enrolling in apprenticeships at Belfast Metropolitan College but has yet to secure an employer sponsor. He was previously employed with a construction business, but they could not keep him on as an apprentice because of potential added costs and lengthy training. "I think the government should be helping employers, a lot of them are small or medium-sized businesses, they have overheads and insurance to pay for," Ryan’s mother, Helen Marks, said. Ryan described the process as "quite stressful" and said he remains eager to gain a qualification. "When I first started, my plan was to be done my apprenticeship this year, and I haven't even started one yet; once I start one it's going to be another two years."

Department for Economy figures show the number of people starting apprenticeship programmes has risen by about 40% in five years.

"However, given the success and growing popularity of apprenticeships over the past number of years, securing employment is more competitive than ever," a department spokesperson said. "It's not easy." Marks described her son's search for an employer as "really rough" as he remains highly enthusiastic about training in the field. "The government needs to have some sort of way of supporting employers, so that when an employer looks at an apprentice, they see a positive thing, not something that's going to pull them back," she said. "At the minute it's not an easy process."

Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to earn as you learn across a wide range of sectors for people aged 16 and over. To undertake an apprenticeship, learners are required to be employed for a minimum of 21 hours per week, including off-the-job training. Traditional apprenticeships saw a jump from 5,811 learners in 2018/19 to 7,519 in 2023/24, while higher level apprenticeships in further education colleges grew from 450 to 955 over the same period.

Nicole Cameron was an occupational therapist for six years before deciding she wanted a change in career. She is now a higher level apprentice in event management, but she also struggled to find an employer. "I sort of did things the wrong way around, finding the course first then had to find an employer," she said. Belfast Met were "excellent and helpful" in trying to assist her in securing employment. Nicole later found work with FairyTales Wedding Specialists in Coleraine. Owner Darran Wallace said Nicole had been a "real asset," but if he were to take on an apprentice again, he would look for more support.

'A complex space' Fewer than 10% of employers in Northern Ireland currently hire apprentices, according to Lucy Marshall from Workplus. Workplus connects job seekers with employers by collaborating with businesses across various sectors. Ms Marshall said there is increasing interest in both traditional and higher level apprenticeships, with Workplus experiencing "double" the number of applications from last year. "We are working with employers to help them navigate the space. It's a complex system and it can be hard for employers to know where to start. But there is an opportunity for employers to work together," she said.

Siobhan Lyons, Belfast Met's director of development and partnerships, said there has been a "huge" growth in people taking on higher level apprenticeships over the past five or six years. The college initially had 40 learners when higher apprenticeships were introduced in 2018. This has grown to 400 higher apprentices last year. "It is a commitment for an employer to take on an apprentice…but the benefits of that are huge in order to attract that pipeline of talent into their business," Lyons said.

DfE said apprenticeships are a "key part of the minister's vision for the economy". The department funds training costs, offers incentive payments to employers and recently launched a three-year apprenticeship action plan aimed at creating opportunities and addressing barriers. In addition, the Construction Industry Training Board offers a series of grants to further support employers of apprentices in the construction sector. While demand is growing and places are competitive, the department said new measures such as a challenge fund and local apprenticeship navigators "will support more businesses to take on apprentices." DfE added it has been working in partnership with employers and education providers to "help align apprenticeships with non-employed vocational pathways so that learners can complete their learning and help progress to higher levels or employment".

The momentum in Northern Ireland's apprenticeship system suggests steady progress, but stakeholders caution that policy support for employers remains essential to translate rising interest into more placements and broader economic benefits. The coming years will hinge on whether government incentives, targeted funding, and employer supports translate into a durable pipeline of skilled workers across sectors.