Final call for nominations across Mayo for Apprentice of the Year 2024

The National Apprenticeship Office has announced its final call to people across Mayo and Connaught to nominate their Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice of the Year 2024.

Nominations for the 2024 award competition are set to close by Friday (June 14).

Now in its third year of celebrations, the 2024 Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice of the Year Awards will not only celebrate and showcase apprentices nominated to win a prestigious national award this December, but will celebrate and recognise hardworking apprentice talent and skills in Mayo, Connaught and throughout the country.

There is a 27,000+ strong community of hardworking apprentices building rewarding careers with apprenticeships, with the National Apprenticeship Office now calling for nominations across Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo to celebrate apprentices of all talents, backgrounds and abilities, including everyone from young impressive apprentices to older apprentice and career changers, to female apprentices breaking barriers in their field, and much more.

Nominated apprentices will be assessed on their contribution and achievement in leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, with a record number of nominations wanted across the Connaught region and further afield to beat the 220 nominations in 2023.

Nominations can be made by filling in a nomination form at apprenticeship.ie.

The Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice of the Year Awards ceremony for 2024 will see 500 guests comprised of nominees, their friends, families, employers and special guests attend the spectacular event in the historic Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin, this December.

Last year’s awards ceremony saw the first-ever female apprentice take home the Apprentice of the Year title, with manufacturing engineering apprentice Hazel Johnston describing herself as 'shocked and thrilled' when she heard her name called as winner.

Since winning the awards, Hazel has been communicating her message in the media to encourage men and women across Ireland to discover their potential with apprentice and 'just go for it’ – demonstrating how they too can build a successful career with an apprenticeship.

In addition to crowning the next Apprentice of the Year for 2024, the awards will also award more outstanding apprentices through a series of special category awards in industries like hospitality, food and healthcare, hairdressing, finance and insurance, ICT, property services, recruitment and sales, manufacturing engineering, biopharma, logistics and motor, and electrical and construction.

Past Connaught winners of the finalist awards include Mayo's John Webster (commis chef apprentice, House of Plates, Castlebar) and Leitrim's Kelsey McGahan (logistics apprentice at Joe McGovern Transport).

Nominees also have the opportunity to have a platform on the Heroes Stage at World Skills Ireland in September, where the nominees get the opportunity to inspire school leavers and potential apprentices with their inspiring apprentice journey.

Dr. Mary Liz Trant, director of the National Apprenticeship Office, commented: “Apprentices are transforming the landscape of Ireland’s skilled workforce, bringing exceptional creativity and innovation, adaptability, leadership, fresh perspectives and a steadfast eagerness to learn that makes them valuable additions to any industry or workforce.

“We look forward to receiving nominations across Connaught and Ireland by Friday and finding the next deserving Apprentice of the Year for 2024.”