North West’s Most talented nominated for Apprentice of the Year

A young Monaghan woman and a Leitrim apprentice have been nominated for Apprentice of the Year award 2024.

Nominations for the 2024 Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year Awards’ have now closed, with some of the North West’s top skills talent firmly in the running to be in with a chance of taking home a ‘highly coveted’ national ‘Apprentice of the Year’ title or a top apprenticeship category award.

Hailing from Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo, 39 nominees, whose attributes have shone through their work and learning, will face an independent panel of judges later 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 Dr 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. If you are interested in finding out more about the apprenticeship route the Heroes showcases start at 2.30pm each day.”

Leitrim’s Emmett Corcoran, an auctioneering and property services apprentice with Cox & Walsh, said he hopes to inspire others working with illnesses or disabilities.

“For me, winning the apprentice of the year award would mean so much because it would show other people living with chronic illness and ‘invisible disabilities’ that they too can pursue their ambitions and not be limited in their ailments,” he enthused.

According to his employer, Emmett has shown “exceptional leadership skills” despite “being ill and ongoing treatment” and has encouraged younger apprentices along the way.

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

Working with MDE Installations, Monaghan electrical apprentice Shauna Sheppard said she is “over the moon” to be nominated, particularly as the only woman on her team.

“Being a woman on the sites, I really thought one of the men would have gotten this,” she admitted.

However, it is Shauna’s ability to take the initiative, her aptitude for learning, and willingness to overcome obstacles that have seen her deservedly nominated.

All nominees will be invited to a spectacular awards ceremony in Dublin on 23 October 2024. Generation Apprenticeship will bring people together for an incredible celebration of the exciting and rewarding careers and possibilities that come with an apprenticeship