Mayo businesses urged to apply for Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme

BUSINESSES in Mayo should apply for the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme which is now being extended until mid-2021 due to its success, says Deputy Alan Dillon.

He has received confirmation from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, that the scheme is being extended for businesses to apply to it.

Deputy Dillon explained: “So far 10 businesses in Mayo have applied for the scheme, which is designed to support employers to continue to recruit apprentices during the immediate Covid-19 period.”

Under the scheme businesses who take on an apprentice receive €2,000 per apprentice and another €1,000 if the apprentice is still on the books for a year.

“This is a good model. It allows a person to earn and learn and allows businesses to train recruits and get some payment for it.”

He continued: “Minister Harris is also developing a new action plan for apprenticeship, but the scheme has offered a lifeline to many businesses seeking to take on apprentices and security for the apprentice.

“SOLAS has also moved to simplify employer access to apprenticeship through a relaunched website at https://apprenticeship.ie/ where employers can find information on participating in apprenticeship or, indeed, discover how to kick-off the development of new apprenticeship programmes.”