A total of 200 apprentice jobs are to be created by engineering services provider Suir Engineering as part of its European growth strategy, it has been announced. 

Recruitment has already begun for the positions and will be increased incrementally over the next 12 months, according to human resources director Claire Cusack. The jobs will be in Ireland as well as centres in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Electrical, mechanical and high-voltage engineering services

The company – which provides electrical, mechanical and high-voltage engineering services – also announced details of a centre it has opened to train apprentices which will support the country’s SOLAS training programme.

SOLAS works with education boards across the country to develop further education and training programmes.

“Apprentices are the lifeblood of our industry, and at any one time, we could have up to 400 apprentices in the business,” said chief operating officer Brendan Moley. 

"And interestingly, not all are joining us straight out of school. Men and women in their 30s and 40s are upskilling and they see Suir Engineering as a strong option for a career change and have made the decision to go back to the classroom."

The training at the centre will make sure all apprentices “undergo training before joining our qualified professionals on-site".

The company said the apprenticeships would lead to permanent roles with the company in electrical engineering and instrumentation.

The positions will come on stream over the next year and will bring to 1,600 the total numbers employed by the firm.

New Apprentice Centre of Excellence

The new Apprentice Centre of Excellence to support the state's SOLAS training programme, will be located at the company’s Citywest location in Dublin, with ancillary training at its Waterford HQ.

"Employees will undergo different levels of training and ongoing assessment over the course of their apprenticeship, raising the bar even further for trade professionals in the engineering sector in Ireland," said Moley.

"Traditionally, any apprentice’s first day on the job is on a site without any prior training or learning to get them site ready. At Suir Engineering, we are transforming that process.

"With our new centre of excellence, we will ensure that every new apprentice will undergo training before joining our qualified professionals on-site to ensure they are site-ready. And that specialist training will continue throughout their four years until they are fully qualified."

Founded 40 years ago, last year Suir Engineering had a turnover of €429m, an increase of 41% on the previous year.