Young Kildare woman is Apprentice of Year award winner for 2024

Bronwyn Villis from Kilcullen was announced as the national Apprentice of Year award winner for 2024, last night, Wednesday, 23rd October 2024, together with 17 exceptional finalists to over 500 guests in the Round Room of The Mansion House, Dublin.

Bronwyn Villis, who is undertaking the Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship with Kerry Group won the Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice of the Year national title out of a record number 400 nominations from every region of the country. 

Coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Office, the Apprentice of Year 2024 awards showcase the wonderful 28,000+ strong community of apprentices who are transforming Irish workplaces, providing a source of superb talent and innovation.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, Patrick O’Donovan TD said:

“The 400 outstanding apprentices nominated for an Apprentice of the Year award this year demonstrate the enormous wealth of talent we have in this country. I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one on their fantastic achievement. Through the continued drive for transformation of the apprenticeship system, businesses of all sizes and sectors have so much to gain from a highly talented pool of apprentices.”

Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office added:

“The National Apprenticeship Office is delighted to be involved in hosting the national Apprentice of the Year awards for the third year running. Apprentices are at the heart of Ireland’s skilled workforce, with remarkable attributes of leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving. These awards not only celebrate the nominees, but also the power and impact of apprenticeship as a mode of learning and career development for people of all ages and backgrounds across all 21st century industries in Ireland.”

Now in its third year of celebrations, the 2024 awards showcase our wonderful 28,000+ strong community of apprentices who are transforming Irish workplaces and are providing a source of superb talent and innovation. 

The evening of celebration included one overall Apprentice of the Year award winner and 16 industry-based awards in categories including: Auctioneering & Property Services, BioPharma, Construction, Electrical, Engineering, Finance, Hair, Hospitality & Food, ICT, Logistics, Motor and Sales and Marketing.

The 17 finalists across the apprenticeship categories include:

• Bronwyn Villis, undertaking a Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship with Kerry Group, Overall winner of Apprentice of the Year 2024 and Biopharma Category finalist Kilcullen, Co Kildare

• Elaine Sheahan, undertaking a Auctioneering & Property Services apprenticeship with Yugo Ireland (Cork, Dublin), Auctioning and Property Services Category finalist,  Ballinlough Road, Cork

• Ben Geoghegan, undertaking a Plumbing apprenticeship with CJK, Finglas, Dublin, Construction Category finalist, Ratoath, Co Meath

• Sean Cumiskey, undertaking a Scaffolding apprenticeship with Cumiskey Scaffolding, Ranelagh South Dublin, Construction Category finalist, Clarehall, Dublin 

• James O'Connor, undertaking an Electrical apprenticeship with O'Shea's Electrical Ltd Little Island, Cork, Electrical Category finalist, Blackrock, Co Cork

• Jamie Kirwan undertaking an Electrical apprenticeship with Suretank Ltd, Dunleer, Co. Louth. Electrical Category finalist,  Clogherhead, Co Louth

• Shaun Rogers undertaking an Electrical apprenticeship  with Mooney Boats Ltd, Killybegs, Donegal, Louth  Electrical Category finalist, Lettermacaward, Co Donegal

• Jodie Whyte undertaking a Manufacturing Engineering apprenticeship with Johnson and Johnson, Rivers, Limerick,  Engineering Category finalist, Murroe, Co Limerick

• Peter Duffy, undertaking an OEM apprenticeship, with Turmec Teoranta, Rathcarren, Meath Engineering Category finalist, Wilkinstown, Dublin

• Leah Maguire, undertaking an Insurance Practitioner apprenticeship, with Eolas Money, Clonmel, Tipperary, Finance Category finalist, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary

• Nicole McGroddy, undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship in JC Hairdressing, Letterkenny Donegal, Hairdressing Category finalist,  Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

• Philip McDonagh Lambe undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship with Ciaran Nevin Hair Salon Terenure, Dublin, winner in the Hairdressing Category, Clonsilla, Dublin

• Freddie Cullen, undertaking a Commis Chef apprenticeship with The Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, Limerick, Food and Hospitality Category finalist, Mountcharles, Co. Donegal

• Jack Yeates, undertaking a Software Development apprenticeship with Salesforce, North Wall, Dublin,  ICT Category finalist, Kildare Town, Co Kildare

• Kelsey McGahan undertaking a logistics associate apprenticeship with Joe McGovern Transport, Bawnboy, Co, Cavan,  Logistics and Transport Category finalist , Mohill, Co. Leitrim

• Cian O' Callaghan undertaking a heavy vehicle motor mechanics apprenticeship with Go Ahead Ireland, Naas, Meath, Motor Category finalist, Lucan, Co Dublin

• Gary McKeague undertaking a Retail Supervision apprenticeship with Mark 2 Menswear, Carndonagh, Donegal, Sales and Marketing Category finalist, Culdaff, Co Donegal

The National Apprenticeship Office oversees the national apprenticeship system on behalf of Government. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 includes a goal of at least 10,000 apprentices registering each year by 2025. Delivered by the National Apprenticeship Office, the nationwide #GenerationApprenticeship campaign seeks to mobilise a community of more than 40,000 active apprentices, graduates, employers and apprenticeship training and support staff.

About the #GenerationApprenticeship campaign

Strategic promotion of the national apprenticeship system is coordinated under the banner of ‘Generation Apprenticeship’ by the National Apprenticeship Office. The pace of change is accelerating with apprenticeship, a choice that gives people the opportunity to earn while learning and develop 21st century work-ready skills. Find out more at www.apprenticeship.ie.

About Apprenticeships

• There are now 28,400 apprentices training in Ireland across 77 diverse Generation Apprenticeship programmes, with 9,500+ employers driving opportunity with apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeship pathways now offer qualifications from a NFQ level 5 certificate level to Level 10 Phd across 77 programmes including a whole host of new apprenticeships with exciting employers coming on stream all of the time.
• Generation Apprenticeship programmes have broadened from craft and construction-led apprenticeships into diverse, cutting-edge industries such as ICT, biopharma, insurance, recruitment, real estate, sales and many more industries.

• Most recently, a number of apprenticeships have been launched including Digital Marketing, Social Work, and in Farm Management, Horticulture and Civil Engineering.