200 new jobs and apprentice centre created by Suir Engineering
Apprentice Cillian Kelly and Brendan Moley COO, Suir Engineering. Photo: Paul Sherwood
Suir Engineering, whose main office is based in Cleaboy Business Park in Waterford City, has announced this week the creation of two hundred jobs and the launch of an Apprentice Centre of Excellence.
The apprenticeship jobs, all of which will result in permanent positions, are in the areas of electrical and electrical and instrumentation.
The 200 jobs, which are being phased in over the next 12 months, will bring the total headcount at Suir Engineering to 1,600.
A spokesperson said the jobs announcement is part of the company’s European growth strategy and the urgent need, right across the sector, for more highly skilled and trained workers.
Chief Operating Officer Brendan Moley says that the positions are part of the company’s direct employment talent pipeline.
“As we grow our European footprint, the need to develop our highly skilled workforce grows too,” said Moley.
“Apprentices are the lifeblood of our industry, and at any one time, we could have up to 400 apprentices in the business. And interestingly, not all are joining us straight out of school.
"Men and women in their 30s and 40s are upskilling and they see Suir Engineering as a strong option for a career change and have made the decision to go back to the classroom.
“We want to debunk the notion that university is the default option for people looking for a successful career. There are many other options, and an apprenticeship offers fantastic opportunities.”
Mr Moley also announced details of a first-of-its-kind Apprentice Centre of Excellence at Suir Engineering’s City West location in Dublin, with ancillary training provided at the company’s Irish headquarters in Waterford.
The centre comprises a mix of practical workstation and classroom learning with a dedicated trainer and mentor to support apprentices over their four years of training.
“Employees will undergo different levels of training and ongoing assessment over the course of their apprenticeship, raising the bar even further for trade professionals in the engineering sector in Ireland,” said Mr Moley.
“Traditionally, any apprentice’s first day on the job is on a site without any prior training or learning to get them site ready. At Suir Engineering, we are transforming that process.
"With our new Centre of Excellence, we will ensure that every new apprentice will undergo training before joining our qualified professionals onsite to ensure they are site-ready.
"That specialist training will continue throughout their four years until they are fully qualified. They will each spend a week in the centre before they progress to college for Phases 2, 4 and 6 of their apprenticeship,” Moley concluded.
Operating in the areas of pharma, energy and utilities, food and beverage, and data centres, Suir Engineering was founded in 1984. Marking 40 years in business this year, Suir Engineering has offices in Waterford, Dublin, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the UK. The company reported a turnover of €429 million for 2023, representing a strong performance of 41% year-over-year growth.
