Cork apprentice Hazel Johnson is the first ever female winner of the Apprentice of the Year.
Hazel Johnson, a Manufacturing Engineering apprentice with DePuy Synthes, won the award at the Mansion House last night. She studies at Munster Technological University.
More than 220 apprentice award nominees attended the event last night, with 14 finalists from eight different industry categories collecting awards.
The 14 finalists were across apprenticeship categories including Hospitality, Food and Healthcare, Hairdressing, Finance and Insurance, ICT, Property Services, Recruitment and Sales, Manufacturing Engineering, Biopharma, Logistics and Motor, Electrical and Construction.
They were:
- Grace Nagle, undertaking a Commis Chef apprenticeship with University Hospital Tipperary (HSE Southeast)
- Paul King, undergoing an ICT apprenticeship with Google Ireland
- Laoibhse O Malley, undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship with Bridget Haren Hair and Beauty, Co Clare
- Leah Carrol Byrne, undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship with Vanilla Hair Design, Co Carlow
- Lisa O’Sullivan, undertaking an Auctioneering & Property Services apprenticeship, with DNG Ella Dunphy, Co Kilkenny
- Shakeel Jeeroburkan, undertaking an apprenticeship in Finance with Fidelity International, Dublin
- Ronan Dunne, undertaking a transport operations and commercial driving apprenticeship with Polar Ice Ltd, Co Offaly
- Kelsey McGahan, undertaking a logistics apprenticeship with Joe McGovern Transport, Co Leitrim
- Kerrie Anne Fitzgerald, undertaking an electrical apprenticeship with Freefoam Building Products/, Co Cork
- Gary Whelan, undertaking an electrical instrumentation apprenticeship with Diageo Ireland, Dublin
- Glenn Dermody, undertaking an electronic security systems apprenticeship with Xenon Building Technology, Co Carlow
- Nicholas Davis, undertaking an electrical apprenticeship ESB Networks, Co Cork
- Jamie Bermingham, undertaking a plumbing apprenticeship with Jones Engineering (H A O Neill), Co Dublin
- Hazel Johnston, undertaking a Manufacturing Engineering apprenticeship with DePuy Synthes, Co Cork
Dr Mary Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, said that apprentices are transforming the landscape of Ireland’s skilled workforce, bringing exceptional diversity, creativity and innovation into their industry and workplace.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said his department is working hard to increase the number of females taking up apprenticeships.
"Wile it is heartening to see the numbers increase every year, we know much more needs to be done," he added.
As part of Budget 2024, an additional core €67m investment will help to grow the apprenticeship system, and in particular will allow craft apprenticeship to move from providing 13,000 places in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024, and reduce the length of time an apprentice waits for training.
