Having a Minister for Further education is a step forward when it comes to changing the perception of apprenticeships according to a local training adviser.
Caroline Flanagan, the senior training adviser with apprenticeship service for the CMETB, says that the idea that an apprenticeship is for someone who is 'not academic' is shifting but more awareness is needed.
Across Cavan and Monaghan there are 650 people doing these programmes, with 75 of those doing them in new areas such as auctioneering, accounting, and insurance.
Caroline says that this style of learning is becoming increasingly desirable for employers as it sees academic learning applied in an actual workplace.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound she said people should remember that doing an apprenticeship is a higher level education qualification:
