Hardware sector careers at Ireland Skills Live

HAI and Hardware Jobs exhibited at the inaugural Ireland Skills Live at the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin in March, where they successfully promoted and offered advice on career opportunities in the hardware industry, including retail, merchanting, supply and manufacturing to students, teachers and career guidance counsellors (CGCs).

Hardware Jobs was joined by industry employers Dwayne Holt (Blackrock Builders Providers), Jason O’Mahony (HPC Group) and Rachel Reddin (Kelly’s Homevalue) to talk to Transition Year, Fifth and Sixth year students about how a job in their local hardware store or builders merchant can be both a viable long-term career, and as a pathway to a product-specific sector or trade, and how they can get started. Visiting teachers, parents and CGCs were also interested to find out more about alternative options for their students and children, apart from more “traditional” pathways to career like 3^rd level education.

Many of those who visited the stand were concerned about the limited options available without experience. They were pleased to learn straight from employers that to get started in the sector they don’t need experience, “just the right attitude”.  Students interested in getting started in the sector were advised to use their initiative and talk to their local hardware business owner or manager about potential work experience opportunities, and how, once they get started, there’s no end to their learning and development.

“We were pleased to see the growing interest from job seekers about careers in this sector, going by the number of visits to the stand, and the enthusiasm expressed by both students and counsellors, and we look forward to working more with interested parties in the future to continue to promote available opportunities.” – Aoife Kinsella, Hardware Association Ireland.

Ireland Skills Live was a celebration of apprenticeships and skills careers, with national skills competitions taking place in areas including construction (categories including plumbing & heating, plastering, and carpentry), manufacturing and engineering, hospitality (restaurant service, cooking, beauty therapy) and more. The winners were announced on the Saturday evening at an awards ceremony, and they will go on to represent Ireland in their respective category at the World Skills Olympics in Russia.

The event had some special visitors like John Halligan, Minster of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, and an tUachtarán Michael D Higgins visited some of the competitors and exhibitors.

If you are an employer in the sector and are interested in collaborating with HAI and Hardware Jobs at future careers events, or would like to advertise vacancies with Hardware Jobs, then email aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969.