Apprentice talent a ‘key catalyst’ for Kirby’s growth

Kirby Group Engineering is a leading mechanical and electrical engineering contractor, with operations across Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe. Founded by brothers Tom and Michael Kirby in Limerick in the mid-1960s, it has supported apprentices for nearly 60 years.

As of this month, Kirby has 206 electrical, instrumentation, mechanical and sheet metal working apprentices working across its business – and the firm promises candidates excellent technical training, graduated practical work challenges, superb coaching and mentoring, along with quality personal development and support.

HR director Fergus Barry says that apprentices are an integral part of the organisation.

“Our programme has long been a vital source of talent for Kirby that has acted as a key catalyst in our growth,” he said. “Former apprentices from Kirby and elsewhere can be found working at every level of the company, including the executive team. Having that knowledge and experience woven into our firm is such a valuable asset and current apprentices learn from their predecessors who have been through the programme and the whole organisation benefits from the all-round development that an apprenticeship offers.”

Kirby provides a structured career development path which enables ambitious and high-performing apprentices to plot a career from craftsperson to supervisor to site manager to project manager at a management level. An apprenticeship also opens up opportunities to progress into a number of specialist functions in the company such as Estimation, BIM, Planning and Health and Safety.

The firm, which employs 1,400 people, also provides further educational support and has facilitated a number of former apprentices to progress to full professional engineering qualifications.

Fergus Barry says that as well as supporting apprentices through their training and education, he and his senior management colleagues monitor their progress and often identify those who can play a leading role in Kirby’s future:

“We are always planning ahead so at our directors’ meetings we discuss the progress of our senior apprentices and see how they might fit into our longer-term talent pipeline,” he said. “Our programme is designed to develop a well-rounded technician – so we work to develop the individual and give them a strong understanding of the industry and the opportunities in it, on top of the actual qualification they’re working towards. That is one aspect in which apprenticeships have changed over the years – there is now a greater emphasis on competency development and personal professional development.”

Another aspect which is changing is the gender profile of the apprentices and Kirby has a number of female apprentices enrolled in its programme which would have traditionally been a male-dominated space.

Michelle Powell, Kirby’s apprenticeship lead, says this an important element of her role.

“We are actively working to change the image of your typical electrician or mechanical worker – it’s something we’re making progress on right across the company,” she said. “At second level, we’re working with schools to encourage more young women to consider an apprenticeship as a rewarding option for when they finish school. It’s exciting to see the awareness growing of the benefit Stem-related careers can offer them.”

Brendan Muldowney, E&I turnover engineer with Kirby, began his apprenticeship with the company in 2012. Currently based on a Kirby project in Co Offaly, he has already earned experience on sites in Kildare, Sligo, Galway, Shannon, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford.

“I believe that starting my apprenticeship at the age of 17 was the best decision I ever made,” he said. “When I finished secondary school, unlike my friends, I had no interest in going to college – it just wasn’t for me – but I couldn’t turn down the chance to learn and work while getting paid. Being on a site was such an eye-opener – you’re constantly learning and developing your skills.”

Brendan also believes that he has had the best of both worlds as once he completed his apprenticeship programme, he had the opportunity, through Kirby, to take on a two-year course in Electrical Engineering at what was then Limerick Institute of Technology, which added to the experience and training he got as an apprentice.

Brendan’s ability and hard work at Kirby were further rewarded when he won the title of national champion in industrial control at the 2016 WorldSkills Ireland competition before going on to represent this country at the 2017 WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi.

He loves the fact that he’s still learning although he completed the apprenticeship programme several years ago: “I have had great opportunities while working with Kirby already and have seen so much of this country on the most amazing projects and the company offers us the chance to work in their overseas offices too,” he said. “None of this would be happening if I hadn't done my apprenticeship with them. There weren’t many from my year in school who went down the apprenticeship route and that’s a shame as it could be a fantastic option for so many young people in this country.”

Full details of Kirby’s apprenticeship, graduate and career opportunities are available on careers.kirbygroup.com