Students check out career options at Carrick-on-Suir Apprenticeship & Training Recruitment Fair

Caption: Comeragh College past student Jack Murphy of the Defence Forces, Maria Jensen, Comeragh College career guidance counsellor, former ERSS student Shane Torpey of the Defence Forces, Aileen O'Keeffe, career guidance counsellor in ERSS, former Scoil Mhuire student Katie Dwyer, who is a trainee hairdresser with Peter Mark and Scoil Mhuire career guidance counsellor Síle O’Grady. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian 

Several hundred second level students flocked to Carrick-on-Suir’s first ever Apprenticeship & Training Recruitment Fair at Comeragh College last week.

The fair was jointly organised by Comeragh College, Scoil Mhuire and Edmund Rice Secondary Schools and it was so successful that the schools hope to run it again in the future.

More than 30 private companies, public service bodies manned information stalls about their apprenticeship, training and job opportunities at the two- hour long fair held in Comeragh College’s main hall on Wednesday evening, March 29.

MSD, GSK (Glaxo Smithkline), Dawn Meats, Suir Engineering, Radley Engineering and Bolands were among the private companies that had stands at the fair along with employers and representatives from the hairdressing, tourism, agriculture, building and further education sectors.

The Gardaí, HSE and Defence Forces were among the public bodies represented at the event.

Comeragh College Principal Kevin Langton said the fair was attendly mainly by senior students but some junior cycle students also attended with their families.

He said the fair was a combined effort from the town’s post primary schools to show there are training and education opportunities other than university courses available after Leaving Cert.

“Apprenticeships are not a second choice. They are very worthwhile in their own right and Ireland is crying out for trades people whether it’s hairdressers, plasterers and carpenters.”

Mr Langton noted it was satisfying to see some of Comeragh College’s past pupils manning stands at the fair.

He believes it was a good time of the academic year to showcase to students what apprenticeship and training options are out there.

“It nothing else it will leave people thinking maybe this is something I might consider.”

He said the fair was a great success and when the three schools sit down to review the event they will consider whether to stage it again annually or every two years.

Mr Langton paid tribute to the career guidance counsellors from the three schools for their work in organising the fair and all the employers, public and further education bodies that participated.

“It was really well supported by the students, their parents and the community. No employer or agency we approached said ‘no’ when contacted about taking part.

“It was a real community effort and hopefully it will lead to some career paths for students in our area.

“I wish to thank everybody for their contribution. It was our pleasure to be the host of such an event,” he added.

More photos from the Apprenticeship & Training Recruitment Fair are featured in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops