Suir Engineering gives apprentices best possible start in the trade
Apprentices are central to the continued growth of Suir Engineering, and will not change into the future.
In 2024, Suir Engineering launched the Apprentice Centre of Excellence at its Citywest campus – a development that continued to deliver dividends for the company.
“We’re really pleased with how the Apprentice Centre has gone since it opened in Citywest,” says COO Brendan Moley.
“We have 329 apprentices with us at the moment, and the facilities there have made a real difference for them. The training standards are high, and the feedback from the apprentices has been excellent. For us, it’s about giving people the best start we can in the trade, and already we’re seeing the benefits of that coming through on site. It’s something we’re very proud of, and we believe it’s setting a strong standard for the industry.”
Apprentices are central to the continued growth of Suir Engineering, and will not change into the future.
“The apprenticeship route has served us really well over the years: many of our supervisors, project managers and directors progressed that way, including five members of our current senior management team. This year alone, we’ve offered 62 qualifying apprentices permanent roles, who are now building long-term careers with us. It’s a proven path in the company, and it’s something we’ll continue to invest in for the future.”
He agrees that many apprentices see it as a stepping stone into engineering or management roles within the business: “Absolutely. We’ve seen a lot of apprentices go on to further their education and move into roles like engineering, quantity surveying and project management. With the right support, an apprenticeship can be the first step into a long career here, and we’ve plenty of examples of people who’ve made that journey successfully.”
Moley readily concurs that apprenticeship programmes can benefit the Irish construction industry in the long term, in addition to helping with current labour shortages.
“Yes, apprenticeships build a strong skills pipeline. At Suir, some of our apprentices have gone on to complete degrees while continuing their trade training. For example, our Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship allows newly qualified tradespeople to work towards a Level 7 degree. By October 2025, five apprentices will have graduated, six more will enter their second year this September, and four will start their first year of their degree course. It’s about more than meeting immediate needs; it’s giving people the skills and experience to lead in the future.”
With only 5.2% of state apprenticeships taken by women and just 9.1% of Ireland’s construction workforce being female, it is a situation that is changing – and one where Suir Engineering do you see this changing will help balance the gender mix.
“We certainly have a strong female representation here at Suir Engineering, from apprentices right through to senior management. We are genuinely committed to gender equality and have made real progress over the years. We highlight female role model apprentices, provide the same development opportunities to all apprentices and graduates, and make it clear that engineering and construction are industries full of opportunity, regardless of your gender.”
Apprentice of the Year, Karl Duffy, is happy in his work at Suir Engineering, and the prospects it is already beginning to yield.
“Every day brings something new to learn, and I’ve had the chance to work alongside some of the most skilled people in the industry. Choosing this path has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.” Given that Suir is involved across several sectors – data centres, renewables, energy, life sciences, food – it offers a potential variety of career directions into the future.
“The range of sectors means I’m getting exposure to different types of projects and technologies. It’s exciting to know that my skills could take me into so many areas.”
Being able to ‘earn while you learn’ has also been a great advantage at this early stage of his career: “It’s a huge advantage. Not only am I building my career, but I’m also gaining real-world experience that makes the learning much more relevant and practical.”
Listing the best parts of the job, Karl puts teamwork high on the list: “For me, it’s the teamwork and the variety. Plus, the support from mentors like Brendan has been brilliant. At Suir, they really want you to succeed.”
Suir Engineering is sponsoring Karl to continue his education, and he starts the Automation and Instrumentation course this September.
“An apprenticeship Programme is a fantastic way to learn a trade, gain qualifications, and set yourself up for a solid career. You get the best of both worlds, education and hands-on experience, and you’re part of something that makes a real impact.”
