Gender-based bursary for apprenticeship employers announced
The Irish Government has announced a new gender-based bursary for apprenticeship employers.
Launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, the bursary is part of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, and the ongoing drive on gender balance and diversity in the workplace and in Ireland’s national apprenticeship system.
An amount of €2,666 per apprentice is available to employers who employ an apprentice from a minority gender on one of 41 target apprenticeship programmes.
“Hairdressing is the one apprenticeship on the the list of eligible programmes where the minority gender is males, so employers who employ males on a hairdressing apprenticeship will be eligible,” explained the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (Habic) in a blog post. “If you employ an apprentice male hairdresser, you may apply for the bursary via the apprenticeship unit in your local Education and Training Board (ETB), which you can find on apprenticeship.ie.
“An application form for the bursary can be accessed via your local ETB senior training advisor. Following submission of your bursary application a representative will be in contact to progress your application.”
The bursary will be paid in two instalments: €1,333 is payable following completion of six months of training by the apprentice(s), while the second payment of €1,333 is payable following completion of 18 months of training by the apprentice(s).
The bursary is being implemented with effect from 1 January 2022, and covers all new apprentice registrations from that date on eligible national apprenticeship programmes.
