Elaine Sheahan, Auctioneering and Property Services apprentice at Yugo Ireland, has received a national award at the Generation Apprenticeship ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awards 2024, held recently in Dublin’s Round Room at the Mansion House.
Elaine Sheahan is one of 17 finalists who took home a prestigious industry award at the spectacular awards ceremony that showcases the breadth of phenomenal apprentice talent that exists in workplaces right across Ireland. Cork man and Blackrock native, James O’Connor, Electrical apprentice with O’Shea’s Electrical Ltd in Little Island, Cork also received a prestigious award in the ‘Electrical’ category at the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2024.
Coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Office, the Apprentice of the Year Awards are now in their third year of celebrations which has seen a doubling of nominations this year. The awards celebrate outstanding apprentice talent that exists across 70+ national Generation Apprenticeship training programmes in every region in Ireland.
Hailing from Ballinlough Road in Cork City, Elaine Sheahan’s award win has put the spotlight on the wealth of apprentice talent that exists in Cork beating tough competition and exceptional talent from a record number 400 Apprentice of the Year’ award nominations.
Barry Comerford, member of the National Apprenticeship Alliance presented the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award to Kildare woman, Bronwyn Villis,Laboratory apprentice with Kerry Group. He also presented the industry award to Yugo’s Elaine Sheahan and 17 exceptional finalists along with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, Patrick O’Donovan.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan; TD said: “Looking at the 400 outstanding apprentices nominated for an Apprentice of the Year award this year, it is clear to see the enormous wealth of talent we have in this country. I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations to every single one on their fantastic achievement. Through the continued drive for transformation of the apprenticeship system, businesses across the country have so much to gain from a highly talented pool of apprentices.”
Commenting on her Apprentice of the Year Auctioneering Award win, Elaine Sheahan said:
“I am honoured to be nominated for the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2024, and I am so proud to have won this special award in the Auctioneering & Property Services category. I would like to say a big thank you to my company Yugo for allowing me to further develop myself while working and studying, along with my mentors Lindsay and Jane and all my fantastic teachers, colleagues and support at the Cork College of Commerce. This award is for all of us!”
Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office added:
“The National Apprenticeship Office wish the warmest congratulations to Elaine Sheahan on winning a top award in the Apprentice of the Year Auctioneering and Property Services category, and to all the outstanding apprentices who won industry awards spanning major skills industries. The National Apprenticeship Office is delighted to be involved in hosting the national Apprentice of the Year awards for the third year running. Apprentices are at the heart of Ireland’s skilled workforce, with remarkable attributes of leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving. These awards not only celebrate the nominees, but also the power and impact of apprenticeship as a mode of learning and career development for people of all ages and backgrounds across all 21st century industries in Ireland.”
