National winners of Generation Apprenticeship second level schools competition announced, spotlighting green careers to fuel Ireland’s future skills generation

Apprenticeships/24.04.2026

Winners of Generation Apprenticeship Competition for Second Level Schools and Centres 2026 Announced

SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) are delighted to announce three exceptional award winners of the NAO’s prestigious Generation Apprenticeship competition for second level schools and centres 2026.

In a competition that spotlights apprenticeships and the green sustainable career routes they offer to secondary school students deciding their next steps after finishing school, the competition encourages second-level schools and centres to bring green, sustainable apprenticeship careers to life and showcase what they’ve learned about apprenticeships.

SOLAS, the further education and training authority, together with the National Apprenticeship Office are leading the way in delivering Ireland’s first National FET Strategy for the Green Transition – Green Skills 2030, with apprenticeships a key focus for future green skills development.

Beating out tough competition from across the four corners of Ireland, and a record number of 22 entries, the three national competition winners are:

·       ‘A’ Build Category: The ‘Generation Apprentice’ 3d ‘A’ build model, by the Pathway to Apprenticeship Group, at Waterford Youth Training and Education Centre (WYTEC), Ballynaneashagh, County Waterford

·       ‘A’ Virtual Category (Design): 5th year design by students at North Wicklow Educate Together School (NWETSS), Bray, County Wicklow

·       ‘A’ Apprenticeship Podcast Category: ‘How Apprenticeships Power The Green Transition’, created by 3rd year students at Oatlands College, Mount Merrion, County Dublin

Con Ferry, SOLAS Director of Apprenticeship Integration and Capacity said:

“Apprenticeships are a valued and recognised pathway for school leavers. With over 80 programmes nationwide, apprenticeships provide practical skills and real opportunities for sustainable, rewarding careers across a wide range of industries and equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the global green transition, across a multitude of modern industries.”

“Standing at the very heart of Ireland’s national apprenticeship system, is a real commitment towards embedding green skills, reducing environmental impact, and increasing sustainable practices across apprenticeship programme delivery and design.”

"Congratulations to all the talented winners and participating schools for showcasing the valuable role apprenticeships play in building a sustainable future for Ireland.”

Receiving the ‘Build’ award, the Pathway to Apprenticeship Group at WYTEC said:

“We’re delighted to accept this award, which is testament to the hard work and effort our team of nine put into this project. As pre-apprenticeship learners, we each have a strong interest in learning new skills and exploring apprenticeship pathways.”

“We enjoyed delving deeper into each particular programme, demonstrating how many apprenticeships drive positive climate action goals and sustainable practices in our 3rd model. We had great fun putting our creative skills to the test, repurposing recycled materials and working together as a team, and we are so proud to take this award back to Waterford.”

Take a look at the winning competition entries for 2026 in this short video below.Generation Apprenticeship

Find more information on the Generation Apprenticeship Competition for Second Level Schools and Centres here and at www.apprenticeship.ie.