PICTURE: Tipperary apprentice hairdresser aiming to be a cut above the rest

The National Apprenticeship Office are showcasing the stories of some of Ireland’s 400 outstanding apprentices nominated for a Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year Awards’ 2024.

Nominations for the 2024 Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year Awards’ have now closed, with some of the South East’s top skills talent firmly in the running to be in with a chance of taking home a ‘highly coveted’ national ‘Apprentice of the Year’ title or a top apprenticeship category award.

Now in its third year, the prestigious awards showcase Ireland’s 27,500+ strong community of apprentices for outstanding leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.

Hailing from Counties Carlow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, 48 apprentices, whose attributes have shone through their work and learning, will face an independent panel of judges later in October.

As part of the awards process nominees get the chance to participate in the Heroes showcase at WorldSkills Ireland, taking place in the RDS, Dublin.

“Nominees will take to the stage on the afternoons of Wednesday 25 and 26 September”, said Mary Liz Trant Director of the National Apprenticeship Office.

“We will have apprentices who include engineers, software developers, accountants, insurance practitioners, aircraft mechanics, farm managers, carpenters, electricians, chefs, and many more taking to the Heroes stage at the RDS where in a one-minute presentation they will speak about why they chose the apprenticeship route and what opportunities it is creating for them..If you are interested in finding out more about the apprenticeship route the Heroes showcases start at 2.30pm each day.”

Blánaid Reidy is an apprentice hairdresser at Mary Quinlan Hair.

Though at an early stage of her career, the Tipperary native has already made a glowing contribution to Ireland’s growing fashion industry, entering her first competition with the global cosmetics brand L’Oreal.

A family bereavement has made it a challenging year for Blánaid, who said her apprenticeship gave her “stability and better things to focus on.”

“I have huge goals that I want to achieve, and my tutor and mentors always help me to push the boundaries on my tasks,” she added.

“My motivation, self-confidence and love for the industry has grown so much since starting my apprenticeship. This nomination means so much to me, especially so soon into my training. I cannot even imagine the emotions I would have if I won the overall Apprentice of the Year 2024. I am thrilled to be a nominee and excited to carry on learning and evolving in my apprenticeship.”

All nominees will be invited to a spectacular awards ceremony in Dublin on 23 October 2024. Generation Apprenticeship will bring people together for an incredible celebration of the exciting and rewarding careers and possibilities that come with an apprenticeship.