Minister launches Modern Apprentices Award Scheme

This year's Modern Apprenticeship of the Year competition has been officially launched by Minister for Employment and Learning, Mrs Carmel Hanna, and Bill Brown, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Training Councils Association (NITCA).

Training providers and employers from all over Northern Ireland are being encouraged to submit their nominations for 'MA of the Year' – and with over 5,000 young people in Northern Ireland now following the Department for Employment and Learning’s Modern Apprenticeship programme, competition is expected to be tougher than ever for this year’s awards.

Now in its second year, the award scheme was developed to recognise the exceptional calibre and reward the efforts and commitment of young people currently training under the Modern Apprenticeship umbrella, many of whom are among the most rapid achievers across the province’s industries.

Judging will take place in early May and the winner announced on 29th May at a ceremony in Belfast Waterfront Hall.

Speaking at the launch, Carmel Hanna said: “I am delighted to be associated with the Modern Apprenticeship of the Year 2002 competition. The Modern Apprenticeship concept has been successfully delivered since 1996 and the number of young people entering the programme has more than doubled over the last year or so.

“It is vital that we raise the levels of skill and competence of our young people through the attainment of National Vocational Qualifications and relevant Key Skills and the Modern Apprenticeships approach embraces both these essential elements."

Bill Brown, Chairman of the NITCA, added that the scheme was not only a very positive way of recognising the efforts of Modern Apprentices but is also an excellent means of highlighting the benefits of training under the MA programme.

He continued: “Last year’s inaugural awards scheme proved highly popular attracting a very competitive field which was largely due to the calibre of candidate the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme appeals to.

“With intake numbers up 20% over last year I am delighted that the potential of the programme is evidently becoming more fully appreciated by both job-seekers and employers across a broad range of industry sectors. I look forward to an even more exciting and hard fought competition this year.”

Nominations for the MA of the Year award will be accepted by NITCA until Friday 26 April 2002.

(CL)