Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA has welcomed the Department for the Economy's launch of the ‘Apprenticeship Action Plan,' but cautioned that it does not go far enough.

The Lagan Valley MLA said that while the party has no fundamental objection to anything in the plan, it is "neither ambitious enough, nor targeted enough".

Mr Honeyford suggested that the plan should learn from the Republic of Ireland's Skillnet model, which is an independent body that links apprenticeships and skills directly to the identified needs of employers. He believes a similar model could be replicated in Northern Ireland to enhance the all-island economy.

He added that there is a need to be "genuinely strategic" in how apprenticeships, training, employment, and learning are linked. By doing so, he said, better opportunities could be created for young people and a strong workforce could be delivered for local employers.