Clare & Limerick Pilot

A simple way to apply for an apprenticeship

Apprentice Connect helps you apply for the apprenticeship you want and choose the employers you'd like to work with. The current pilot is for apprenticeship opportunities based in County Clare and County Limerick.

Applications opening soon

Who it's for

Apprentice Connect is for people who want to start an apprenticeship — usually school leavers aged around 16 to 20, though anyone who can start an apprenticeship can apply. You don't need work experience or a finished CV.

It's not a jobs board. You don't scroll through job ads. You choose the apprenticeship you want to do, then choose the employers you'd like to work with.

How your application works

  1. Step 1: Choose one apprenticeship

    You make one application for one type of apprenticeship. You can change your choice while your application is still a draft. It's locked once you pay.

  2. Step 2: Choose up to 5 employers

    Choose up to 5 employers you'd genuinely like to work with, and the locations that suit you. You don't have to put them in order.

  3. Step 3: Pay your application fee

    You pay securely through Stripe. Your application is submitted once your payment goes through.

  4. Step 4: Complete your assessment

    Our assessment helps us understand more about your strengths and what you could bring to an apprenticeship.

  5. Step 5: Moving to the next stage

    Our team reviews completed assessments. If your application meets the requirements for the next stage, you'll move on to employer matching.

  6. Step 6: Review your employer choices

    Before matching begins, we'll ask you to review your employer choices and make any changes available to you.

  7. Step 7: Shortlisting, interviews and offers

    You may be shortlisted to the employers you chose. Employers can invite you for interview and make an apprenticeship offer, which you have 48 hours to accept or decline.

  8. Step 8: Starting your apprenticeship

    If you accept an offer, that becomes your placement and your other applications with employers close.

What it costs

Application fee

One payment covers your application, your assessment and your own report.

The assessment and your report

Everyone completes an assessment as part of the process. It helps us understand more about your strengths and what you could bring to an apprenticeship. It's not an exam and it's not an academic test.

We'll share your strengths with employers so they can get to know you better.

You get your own report once it's published. If you don't move on to the next stage, we'll give you a Development Strategy based on your assessment to help you understand your strengths and areas you can work on.

What we can and can't promise

Applying through Apprentice Connect does not guarantee that you'll be shortlisted, interviewed or offered an apprenticeship.

What we do promise is a clear process, honest updates about where you are, and a report you can use whatever happens next.

Ready to start?

Create your account and begin your application.

Your information

We only collect what we need. Read the Privacy Notice and the Candidate Terms before you apply.

  • Employers only see you if you chose them and you were shortlisted.
  • Your contact details are only shared with an employer when they invite you for interview.
  • Employer access ends when the process with that employer ends.