Better Public Services Newsletter Sept 2026 - Business and Operations Apprenticeship

The first intake of the new Business and Operations Apprenticeship commenced across the Civil Service in early September.

Developed nationally by a public and private sector consortium steering group, the programme leads to a Level 6 qualification and combines paid work-based learning with accredited off-the-job education delivered by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB). During a 26-month programme, apprentices will learn from peers across the public service and from a variety of sectors, including semi-states, tech and retail firms. As an apprenticeship focused in the field of business, it is the first of its kind in Ireland.

Identified as a key objective in the Public Service Apprentice Plan 2023 – 2025, this programme forms part of a wide range of new apprenticeships set to launch across 2026 and 2027, ensuring that the apprenticeship model can become an increasingly important source of talent for public service recruitment.

Apprentices from the private and public sectors will complete the same core education together, supporting shared, cross sectoral learning. Public sector specific electives will be delivered by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), and will include a dedicated Irish language pathway led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. An initial limited intake of 60 places will be shared between Civil Service departments and leading private sector employers.

As part of the Civil Service recruitment campaign, over 880 applications were received by publicjobs across 2 streams (both English and Irish), demonstrating the incredible potential of this groundbreaking programme. In total, there are 28 apprentices in 8 Departments, across 6 Counties, with significant potential to expand nationwide in future.

The new programme will be of significant benefit to the Civil Service, including the ability to scale the programme across Ireland’s regions, to leverage greater opportunities to attract and upskill Irish language speakers, and to create alternative and inclusive routes into generalist roles to support strengthened public service development and delivery.

The apprentices will undertake 14 learning modules over the 26-month apprenticeship, studying topics such as Business Fundamentals, Introduction to Operations, Customer Service Excellence, Project Management Principles, Organisational Behaviour and Change Management. Apprentices will complete practical assignments and assessments, including a final showcase project.

Towards the end of the programme, successful apprentices in the Civil Service will be eligible to apply for permanent Executive Officer roles, demonstrating the potential of the programme to create exciting new opportunities to embark on rewarding public service careers through the dynamic training model that apprenticeship offers, which will ensure responsivity to the changing skills needs of public service organisations.

Good luck to all the apprentices beginning their journey in new and fulfilling Civil Service careers!

For more information, contact apprenticeship@per.gov.ie