Craft Engineering Apprenticeship - Little Island, Cork

Job Description

Uisce Éireann Mechanical Maintenance Apprenticeship Programme 2026 (QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate - Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitter)

Little Island Treatment Plant, Cork.

We live water. Start your career with a splash.

Finishing school and wondering what's next - or thinking about a practical, hands-on career? The Uisce Éireann Mechanical Maintenance Apprenticeship offers a paid route into a skilled mechanical trade, combining real workplace experience with a nationally recognised qualification. You'll earn while you learn, develop valuable technical skills, and help maintain critical water and wastewater infrastructure that supports communities across Ireland.

Location: This role is based at Little Island Treatment Plant, Cork.

Programme Requirements:

• Key Dates: Applicants must be available to interview between August 10th and 12th and be ready to commence the programme on 14th of September.
• Assessment: As part of our selection process, candidates may be required to complete a psychometric assessment. Your details may be shared with our third-party testing partner for the purpose of administering this assessment.
• Travel: Please note that this role requires extensive travel for off-site training phases (e.g. SOLAS training centres or college); thereafter, occasional nationwide travel for site-based learning will be a standard requirement of the role.

Why choose an apprenticeship with Uisce Éireann?

As Ireland's national water utility, Uisce Éireann offers scale, stability and structured career pathways - making it a strong environment to learn, grow and develop.

Apprentices will:

• Get paid from day one
• Earn a nationally recognised QQI Level 6 qualification
• Gain hands-on experience maintaining essential infrastructure
• Work alongside experienced fitters, technicians and engineers
• Develop practical, technical and problem-solving skills
• Build a long-term career, not just a job

About Uisce Éireann

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering safe, secure and sustainable water and wastewater services to homes, schools, hospitals and businesses across Ireland. Our work protects public health, supports economic growth, and safeguards the environment for future generations. To deliver on this, we invest in our people - developing the next generation of engineers through practical training and real-world experience.

What is a Mechanical Maintenance Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a full-time, paid programme that combines on-the-job learning with structured training.

As a Mechanical Maintenance Apprentice with Uisce Éireann, you will:

• Be employed full-time while completing your training
• Learn on the job in real operational environments
• Develop technical, practical and workplace skills from day one
• On successful completion, you will be a qualified Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitter.

How the programme works

• Duration: 4 years
• Training partner: SOLAS
• The programme includes:
  • Workplace-based learning with Uisce Éireann
  • Structured off-site training through SOLAS training centres and institutes

Apprentices complete a 7-phase programme combining practical and classroom learning.

On completion, you will achieve a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft - Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitter.

What you'll be working on

You'll gain hands-on experience working on:

• Pumps, motors, pipelines and mechanical systems conveying and batching equipment, power transmissions, fluid power systems, and control valves.
• Maintenance, repair and installation of equipment
• Operational sites alongside maintenance and operations teams
• Fault-finding and resolving mechanical issues
• How treatment plants and infrastructure are operated and maintained

Alongside technical skills, you'll also develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills.

Who should apply?

This programme is suitable for:

• School leavers who will be 18 years of age at the start of the programme
• Those looking for a practical, hands-on career
• Individuals interested in mechanics, engineering or technical work

We're looking for people who:

• Enjoy working with tools or fixing things
• Like hands-on learning and problem solving
• Are curious and motivated to learn new skills
• Work well as part of a team

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age at the start of the programme
• Hold the right to work in Ireland for the duration of the programme
• Have passed the Leaving Certificate with Maths (or equivalent qualification). Candidates awaiting results may apply; however, any offer will be subject to providing evidence of results prior to commencement of the programme
• Desirable (not essential):
  • Technical Graphics, Engineering, technology or Metalwork subjects
  • An interest in mechanical or electrical systems

Career Opportunities

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will:

• Achieve a recognised QQI Level 6 qualification
• Gain valuable industry experience
• Can apply for permanent roles within Uisce Éireann (subject to business needs and vacancies)
• Build a long-term career as a skilled mechanical fitter

Terms & Conditions

• Fixed-term apprenticeship contract (4 years)
• Salary paid throughout, in line with SOLAS apprenticeship rates
• Continued participation subject to successful completion of each phase

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.