Minister for the Economy celebrates inclusive apprenticeship success at An Droichead showcase

St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook and Bolster Community were delighted to welcome Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, to The Good Space in Newry for a special event showcasing the impact of the An Droichead Programme.

An Droichead — meaning The Bridge — is funded by the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge and was created to help more young people with disabilities; women and people from disadvantaged areas  take up apprenticeships and succeed in the world of work.

An Droichead students and staff.

The project is built on strong partnership — between the Department for the Economy, St Paul’s High School, Bolster Community, local employers, parents, and most importantly the young people themselves. Together, these partners are proving what can happen when everyone pulls in the same direction to make inclusion real.

What makes An Droichead stand out is its dual pathway model. Each week, participants spend two days in school developing academic and employability skills, and the rest of their time with Bolster Community and on work placements with local employers. This structure helps young people make a smoother transition from school to adult life, giving them confidence, experience, and a clear sense of what comes next.

On the day, guests heard from participants, parents, and employers who have been part of the journey, as well as representatives from the Department for the Economy, the Department of Education, and the Education Authority.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA attended the showcase and praised the collaborative effort and commitment shown by everyone involved.

Speaking at the showcase event the Minister said: “By opening doors into apprenticeships, we are helping to reshape our workforce and our economy – making it more inclusive, more dynamic and more representative of our community.  I believe this project will deliver on all counts and will help inform changes to our apprenticeship system that will make it more inclusive in the longer term.”

Head of Operations at Bolster, Allison Slater, with An Droichead students and Marion McMahon, Specialist Provisions Lead.

Marion McMahon, Specialist Provisions Lead said: “After years of championing better opportunities for young people with special educational needs beyond Post-16, I knew I had to apply for the Department for Economy’s Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund.  This was our chance to show that, with the right support at the right time, these young people can follow a personalised pathway into training and meaningful employment. The holistic support offered through this programme is empowering participants to achieve their individual goals – and it’s inspiring to witness and be part of that journey.”

Allison Slater, Head of Operations & Development at Bolster Community, said: “We’ve been impressed by the incredible support from local employers. So many have gone above and beyond to make this programme work — opening their doors, sharing their time and really wanting to learn what employing a young person with special educational needs looks like in practice. Their openness and enthusiasm have made a huge difference and it’s been amazing to watch the confidence and skills of our young people grow because of it.”

The event was a celebration of what’s possible when education, community, employers, parents, and young people come together with a shared vision. An Droichead is helping to change perceptions, open up opportunities, and build a more inclusive future for everyone.”

Daithí Murray, Allison Slater, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Marion McMahon and Jacinta Linden.