Source: Training and Employment Authority

• Overview
• Benefits
• Traineeship Frameworks
• Operation
• Types of Traineeship

Overview

The FÁS National Traineeship programme is a new system of training tailored to the needs of Irish industry, enterprise and local businesses. It provides a nationally recognised qualification for all non craft occupations that require a substantial training input provided by FÁS Training Centres in partnership with employers. Traineeship involves employers and FÁS working together in a dual system of occupational training. The Training content and occupational standards are based on employer consultation and lead to nationally recognised certification.

Benefits

• The business is experiencing skills shortages.
• The business is about to address the emerging and future skill needs of the business.
• The business has an immediate training need with a substantial skill or knowledge content.
• The introduction of a Traineeship to an occupation in the business would benefit the business.

FÁS facilitates the networking of employers by industry sector and/or location which helps to identify skills shortages and to develop a training specification and curriculum content for each Traineeship. The following are some of the Employer bodies involved with FÁS in the Traineeship Programme:

• The Irish Clothing Manufacturers Federation (ICMF) with the Clothing Traineeship;
• The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) with the Construction Operative Traineeship;
• The Plastics Industry Association with the Injection Moulding Traineeship;
• The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) with Pharmacy Sales Traineeship;
• The Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin with the Jewellery Traineeship;
• The Precision Turned Parts Manufacturers’ Association with the Auto Turning Operator/Setter Traineeship;
• Shannon Aerospace with the Aeronautical Skills Traineeship.

The Traineeship programme has demonstrated clear benefits for the employer including:

• Cost effective training through partnership with FÁS training centres since 75% of trainee costs are funded by FÁS
• Involvement of employers in the design and delivery of the curriculum and the occupational qualification process with FÁS
• Employee induction time is significantly reduced since product knowledge required for the job is learned during the workplace training.
• The reduction of recruitment costs since the employer can avail of the FÁS recruitment and employment promotions
• The improvement of communication and employee flexibility
• The improvement of competitiveness by securing highly qualified workers with the technical and personal skills required in a fast-changing marketplace.

Traineeship Frameworks are developed and agreed nationally between FÁS and the Social Partners. These frameworks outline nationally agreed occupational profiles and integrated training plans involving the use of FÁS approved Training Centres and employer resources in the workplace. Some of the key features of the framework include the following;

• A training contract is issued which details the commitment by FÁS and the employers for each Traineeship.
• A Recruitment Guide is drawn up whereby Employers actively participate in the recruitment of trainees
• Employers are involved with FÁS in developing training content and curriculum.
• The employer hosts the workplace training and provides appropriate resources, including a company nominated Mentors and experienced workers to act as Skill Coaches on the job.
• FÁS provides formal Mentoring and Coaching inputs for companies participating in Traineeships.

Employers contribute towards the cost of Traineeships and the cost is calculated as a % of the training allowance paid to each trainee named in the training contract.

Operation

Traineeships combine directed or ‘off-the-job’ training in a FÁS approved training centre with structured ‘on-the-job’ training in the employers workplace. The directed training involves formal and systematic tuition in a FÁS Training Centre conducted by experienced and professionally qualified trainers. Workplace training provides planned and structured training carried out under normal operational conditions in the workplace. The company assigns a mentor to each trainee who supervises the workplace training. This dual system provides the trainee with the opportunity, to apply in the workplace, the skills and knowledge learned in the Training Centre.

The duration of each Traineeship can vary depending on the occupational skill requirements and the educational entry level of trainees. Traineeships can last from six to twenty four months and include periods in FÁS and in the employer workplace.

Traineeships are currently available in a wide variety of occupations in the following industrial/commercial sectors:

• Aviation,
• Information Technology,
• Multimedia,
• Construction,
• Clothing,
• Retail Sales,
• Manufacturing.

A complete listing of these occupations and the FÁS Training Services Unit responsible for running the Traineeship is provided below. FÁS will support Traineeships in other occupations provided there is a significant training input required and are likely to lead to sustainable Traineeship programmes.

[Top]