Mr. Michael Fitzgerald:

The apprenticeship is completely open to everybody who meets the requirements of SOLAS for an apprenticeship generally, and for this type of apprenticeship, in particular. Everybody over the age of 16 who meets those qualifications can apply and there is no upper age limit. Of those candidates we receive as apprentices, some are school leavers and others are graduates who previously had a career. We have people in from various ages. Some are quite senior people in other professions who go back and then decide to take on an apprenticeship. We are a very wide and diverse group.