Updated notice from SOLAS & HEA 5th March 2021

This is a follow up to our email to you last Friday. Apprentices are a priority group in education over the coming weeks. This week, over 250 craft apprentices returned to ETB Training Centres around the country to complete their off-the-job training. Further groups of craft apprentices are due to return this month on a phased basis to ETB Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. Detailed planning on return is happening in order to enable all craft apprentices currently on off-the-job training to complete their phase as soon as possible. A phased return is essential to reduce the risk while the Covid-19 virus is still in the community and the vaccination programme is still at an early stage.

We have written to your employer to let them know that your training phase will finish some weeks later than originally planned. We do not yet have the date of completion of your training phase. As soon as we have this your employer will be informed.

Some apprentices will have heard from their craft apprenticeship training provider and SOLAS on when they are scheduled to return onsite to complete practical training and assessment. If you have not already heard, you will be informed as soon as the information is available.

On behalf of SOLAS, HEA and all of the training providers thank you once again for your patience and resilience during this difficult time. We will be in contact again next week.

SOLAS and HEA, 05 March 2021

Dear craft apprentice employer

This is a follow up to our email to you last Friday. Apprentices are a priority group in education over the coming weeks. This week, over 250 craft apprentices returned to ETB Training Centres around the country to complete their off-the-job training. Further groups of craft apprentices are due to return this month on a phased basis to ETB Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. Detailed planning on return is in train in order to enable all craft apprentices to complete their phase of training and return to the workplace as soon as possible. In line with the public health guidelines, a phased return is essential to reduce the risk while the Covid-19 virus is still in the community and the vaccination programme is still at an early stage.

From next week onwards we will be contacting employers on when apprentices are scheduled to complete their training and return to the workplace.

We know that delayed return of your apprentice(s) to the workplace is problematic for you and we appreciate your understanding and patience over the coming weeks while affected apprentices complete their current phase of training. Thank you for your support.

Best wishes and regards

SOLAS and HEA, 05 March 2021