Helping to launch the competition were Emma Dougan, who won the competition last year, and Will Haire, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning, who said: "This competition will provide official recognition for the cream of our Modern Apprentices". The training programme was introduced in 1996 to help Northern Ireland develop a world class workforce. "The programme has proved immensely popular with young people," Dougan went on to say; "and provides them with the knowledge, skills, understanding and competence required to work at a relatively high level within their chosen industry."

Such is the success of the programme that intake has almost doubled over the past three years and more than 2,000 local employers are now participating and reaping the benefits of employing Modern Apprentices in their businesses. Tommy McVeigh, Head of Training Programmes Branch in the Department, said the benefits speak for themselves: "All young people following a Modern Apprenticeship are in full time employment from day one, working towards a NVQ at Level 3 and being fully equipped with the skills necessary to carve out a successful career in the occupational area of their choice."

Nominations for the Modern Apprentice of the Year award are now being invited from all Training Organisations and Sector Training Councils involved in the delivery of Modern Apprenticeships under the Jobskills programme. The winner will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on 8 June 2005.

Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije