Recruitment for the second year of Geo Drilling apprentices has now commenced. The next intake of apprentices will commence the Geo Drilling apprenticeship programme in September 2020.

The second intake will build on the strong interest in the Geo Drilling apprenticeship programme which commenced in January 2020. 16 apprentices from 8 different companies commenced the course in mid-January. The 16 apprentices are drawn from the companies and agencies below.

• Priority Drilling
• Irish Drilling
• Boliden Tara
• QME
• Geological Survey Ireland
• Lenihans Well Drilling
• Geo Drilling Solutions
• Meehan Drilling

At present, this first year of students have completed their ‘off the job’ training in Institute of Technology Carlow and have commenced their ‘on the job’ training with their employers. The apprenticeship is delivered by the Institute of Technology Carlow and the lead industry partner is Geoscience Ireland.

The apprentices come from diverse industry backgrounds. The first class of apprentices was drawn from drilling companies who conduct operations on the surface and underground. These drilling companies offer a diverse range of services, ranging from site investigation for construction projects, conducting mineral exploration drilling programmes, water well drilling, quarry drilling and underground drilling in mining operations.

The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship is a two-year programme combining work experience with academic study. Trainees will work with employers for 41 weeks and attend classes 4 days a week for 11 weeks each year. On successful completion of this apprenticeship the apprentice is awarded a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 6 Higher Certificate in Science in Geo Drilling.

A brochure for the course is available by clicking here. If you would like further information about the Geo Drilling apprenticeship, please contact stephen.walsh@gsi.ie.