Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeship is a demand-driven educational and training programme that aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led. Employer groups and educational providers come together forming a consortia to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector.

This is the process that was followed for all 24 apprenticeship proposals that were approved development funding by the Apprenticeship Council in 2017. In the case of the baker apprenticeship, following engagement with QQI on the validation process ‘step 6 on the critical path to developing an apprenticeship’ the Baker apprenticeship proposal was withdrawn by the consortium working on the proposal in 2019.

Currently, there is no specific apprenticeship for the baking industry at present and officials in my Department are not aware of any such apprenticeship in development or being considered. However, this does not prevent a future consortium of employer groups and educational providers from forming a new consortium around the concept of developing a baker apprenticeship or similar.

A defined process and structure for employers to become engaged in the apprenticeship process is in place. It is open to any industry that wishes to explore options for developing an apprenticeship to bring a proposal forward. The Guidance Document for Submitting an Initial Proposal for a New National Apprenticeship together with the Handbook on Developing a National Apprenticeship provides an overview of the key features of new apprenticeships, including sectoral engagement and collaboration among enterprises and other stakeholders in the relevant industry. These publications are available on www.apprenticeship.ie.