KCETB Launches New Accounting Technician Apprenticeship at Carlow Institute
Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB), in partnership with Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI), has officially launched its new Accounting Technician Apprenticeship at an event held on Monday, 13th October at Carlow Institute of Further Education and Training.
The launch brought together programme employers and mentors, representatives from Accounting Technicians Ireland and apprentices, with members of the KCETB Executive Team, senior management, teaching staff and senior training advisors. The event celebrated the beginning of an exciting new opportunity for apprentices and employers across Carlow, Kilkenny, and the wider South East region.
Seventeen apprentices from companies across Carlow and Kilkenny began the programme in September. Over the next two years, they will study one day per week at Carlow Institute while gaining hands-on experience with their employers, earning while they learn and building the foundations for a professional career in accounting.
Members of the team at Carlow Institute of Further Education and Training and KCETB Training Services captured at the Launch of New Accounting Technician Apprenticeship at Carlow Institute
The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship is a two-year, work-based learning programme that combines classroom learning with real-world experience, leading to a QQI Level 6 qualification and a direct pathway into the accounting profession.
Speaking after the launch, Dr Lindsay Malone, Chief Executive of KCETB, said: “This new apprenticeship reflects KCETB’s strategic commitment to providing high-quality apprenticeship programmes that respond directly to local and regional skills needs. The South East has a high concentration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which rely heavily on skilled accounting professionals to manage finances, payroll, and compliance. The course is a critical pathway to enable local talent to upskill, making the region more attractive to businesses and investors seeking a financially skilled workforce”.
PJ Leonard, Director of Finance and IT with Carlow County Council also welcomed the new apprenticeship: “Carlow County Council are delighted to be involved in this apprenticeship. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop new talent and ensure our team has the skills and experience needed to grow. The balance of classroom learning and on-the-job training means apprentices can contribute to our organisation in a meaningful way from the very start.”
Edmond Connolly, South East Regional Skills Manager, said: “The launch of the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship marks an exciting milestone for skills development in the South East. This programme reflects the strong collaboration between education and industry that ensures local talent can build rewarding careers while meeting the needs of regional employers. It’s fantastic to see Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and Accounting Technicians Ireland working together to create new pathways for learners to ‘earn and learn’ right here in our region.”
The launch represents another milestone in KCETB’s ongoing expansion of apprenticeship and skills training opportunities that strengthen the talent pipeline and support economic growth across Carlow, Kilkenny, and the South East region.
Melinda Niland, Training Services Manager at KCETB, speaking at the Launch of New Accounting Technician Apprenticeship at Carlow Institute
Martha Bolger, Director of Further Education and Training Speaking at the Launch of New Accounting Technician Apprenticeship at Carlow Institute