On Sunday 1st February, IUR FM hosted a Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Event feature as part of #NIAW2026.
DJ James McGinn was joined by Caolan McCartan (Technical Design & Manufacture HLA, Pronto Engineering Group), Ross Flynn (HLA Employer, PMK Accountancy Services) and Margaret McNamee (HLA Development Officer at SRC)
Margaret introduced the Big Apprenticeship Events at SRC as part of Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week, and outlined how an apprenticeship works and the benefits of completing one.
Caolan, Technical Design & Manufacture HLA, initially took the university route but wasn’t sure what to do after he left university and returned to SRC to pursue an HLA.
‘It’s the best decision I’ve ever made to be honest with you’, Caolan says, because he is learning both in the workplace and at SRC. He is learning skills he can’t learn anywhere else by gaining practical experience. With the HLA route he is gaining a qualification, experience and industry connections.
Studying at SRC has also allowed Caolan to take part in WorldSkills, and recently in Herning, Denmark he achieved a bronze medal in Industry 4.0, and incredible achievement.
Ross took the university route and has been working with PMK Accountancy for 10 years. When he started working in accountancy after university, he was beginning from the start in terms of experience but with says that with the apprenticeship model there is the advantage of learning straight away. He recognises that it’s a great stepping stone.
PMK Accountancy Services take on one or two apprentices each year, and there is room for progression. At the moment a member of staff who finished his apprenticeship five years ago is now one of the team leaders.
Ross appreciates getting to see the apprentices grow as both employees and people throughout their apprenticeship, and then train the next generation.
Click here to listen to the full interview: https://youtu.be/4o96uWKruyU