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Logistics Associate Apprenticeship (LAA) is now available at MTU

Published on: Friday, 09 April 2021

The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship (LAA), a level 6 Higher Certificate in Logistics, the first dedicated apprenticeship for the logistics sector, launched in TU Dublin in 2018, is now available through the Department of Process, Energy and Transport Engineering in Munster Technological University (MTU).

MTU will be hosting an online open day for prospective employers on Thursday, 15-Apr-2021 at 10am. At this event, Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State for Transport, and Prof Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, will highlight the importance of apprenticeship programmes, and training and education more generally, for the freight distribution and logistics sector. Employers who have recruited apprentices onto the LAA programme will give an overview of their experiences to date. Anna Gorecka, Project Manager for the programme, will provide an overview of the programme and the associated admission application process.

Apprenticeship is defined as a programme of structured education and training which formally combines and alternates learning in the workplace with learning in an education or training centre. With the delivery of the LAA programme now incorporating the participation of MTU as well as TUD, the programme is now delivered on a national basis in line with the ethos espoused by the consortia of industry and education partners.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the trade implications associated with BREXIT, have created significant challenges for all in the freight distribution and logistics sector. These challenges have also raised the profile of a sector which is essential to the success of the Irish economy, while also creating more awareness of the diversity of roles available within the sector. Attracting young people and creating career progression opportunities within the supply chain is critical to supporting and sustaining the resilience of all links in the freight distribution and logistics sector. This apprenticeship programme helps achieve these goals for employers.

Prof Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, said of the announcement: “MTU works very closely with industry in programme design, development, delivery, quality assurance and evolution. We place a very high value on the use of the apprenticeship model in areas where learners can be provided with the best opportunities possible based on a structured blend of industry-based and academic activities. We fully appreciate the strategic importance of the logistics and supply chain sector to the success of the regional and national economies. Accordingly, we are delighted to play a full part in supporting the provision of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship.”

Speaking in advance of Munster Technological University’s launch of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship, Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said that:
“I am delighted to see the roll out of the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship to the Munster region. This will be of great benefit to the many businesses located in Munster and to those interested in working in the logistics and supply chain sector, or those already working in the sector and wishing to upskill. The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship is an excellent example of industry and representative stakeholders and educational institutions actively working together on an apprenticeship programme that meets the needs of both industry and employees or job-seekers during what is a critical time for the logistics sector, in continuing to navigate the impacts of both Brexit and Covid-19. The overall freight, transport, logistics and supply chain sector is a key employer in Ireland offering a wide variety of jobs and roles – I would encourage anyone interested, or even thinking about, a career in the sector to join the online launch event on 15 April.”

Aidan Flynn Chair of Consortium for the apprenticeship said, “The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship programme offers all logistics companies in the Munster region the ideal opportunity to future proof their businesses by recruiting apprentices and/or upskilling existing employees to support their career progression opportunities.” He went on to say that ‘the supply chain is changing at a pace with technological advancements and climate developments that demand change relative to how we worked in the past. It is an exciting time and this apprenticeship programme is a valuable option for all employers in their quest to remain viable into the future. Evidence of its success to date is that there are now over 60 employers (representing every link in the supply chain, from manufacturing, warehouse and distribution haulage to freight forwarding) with apprentices on the programme. This apprenticeship has proven that, by offering structured training and qualifications on the national framework of qualifications, you can attract new entrants into the industry. In addition, it provides benefits for employers as workforce skills are enhanced and employee loyalty is increased in line with the development of improved career progression opportunities.