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Ireland to launch logistics apprenticeship

[ December 14, 2017   //   ]

Ireland is to start work on a Logistics Associate apprenticeship, Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton announced on 8 December.

It is being developed in partnership with the Irish International Freight Association and related industry associations and representative bodies. It follows a call by the Irish Government for National Apprenticeship applications in May 2017, setting a deadline of 1 September 2017.

Target launch date for the new apprenticeship is September 2018.

With only a short time window available, IIFA worked alongside associations such as Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI), Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Ireland (ICSI), Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), the Supply Chain Management Institute (IPICS) and a handful of freight and supply-chain company representatives and Dublin Institute of Technology to research the needs of the industry.

The consortium prepared a proposal for a two-year Logistics Associate apprenticeship comprising full-time work-based activity with academic class-room involvement. Proposed off-the-job training include modules on the different modes of freight transport, workplace competency and international trade.

It is one of 26 new National Apprenticeship programmes announced for development by the Irish Government.

The aim is to promote careers within the freight forwarding and wider supply-chain industry to new entrants and also to provide a clear path.

The Irish Government is committed to more than doubling the number of new apprentices registered to 9,000 by 2020 and expanding further into new areas with €122m allocated in the latest budget for apprenticeship training.

Speaking at the launch Minister Bruton said “One of the greatest causalities of the recession were apprenticeships. Registrations collapsed and fell by over 80% during the period. I am keen during my time as Minister to now, not only reverse this trend and rebuild traditional pathways but to significantly expand apprenticeships into new industries.”

IIFA executive officer Seamus Kavanagh added: “IIFA looks forward to working with its consortium partners to prepare this programme for launch. Through years of experience with delivery of the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and awareness of the competencies desired by member companies, IIFA will have deep involvement in the design and formation of this programme, which will be a valuable resource for future recruitment efforts.”

 

Pictured:

Brian Norton (president of Dublin Institute of Technology), Dr Teresa Hurley (Dublin Institute of Technology), Richard Bruton (Minister for Education and Skills), Aidan Flynn (FTAI and Logistics Associate chair), Garry McCabe (Kuehne & Nagel Ireland) and Seamus Kavanagh (Irish International Freight Association).

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