1. Key Facts and Figures 2023/24

Key points:

Starts

1,800

Participation

2,245

Traineeship Achievements

895

The academic year 2023/24 shows:

  • 1,800 people started a level 2 Traineeship programme, this was an increase of 785 (44%) from 2022/23.

  • Of the total 1,800 starts, 765 were female and 1,030 were male, representing 43% and 57% respectively.

  • The two leading occupational areas for Traineeship starts in 2023/24 were Motor vehicle light and Hairdressing, with 230 (13%) and 225 (12%) respectively.

  • 2,245 FE students were enrolled on a Traineeship programme, this included 1,800 starts and 445 in year 2.

  • 79% (895) of Traineeship students achieved either full or partial achievement.

Definitions

Starts:
The number of students who started a Traineeship in the reported academic year.
Participation:
The number of students enrolled on a Traineehship in the reported academic year.
Success:
The number of final year Traineeship students who achieved at least one component of a Traineeship in the reported academic year.


2. About this report

This report presents analysis of the third publication of Traineeships delivered in Further Education (FE) colleges in Northern Ireland. Traineeships are a level 2 qualification and will typically take one to two years to complete on a full-time basis; the programme commenced in academic year 2021/22. The Traineeships reported on in this publication, are funded through government training programmes. The report details key information on Traineeships and characteristics of students on this programme for academic year 2023/24.


3. Starts

Starts

In 2023/24, 1,800 people started a level 2 Traineeship programme, this was an increase of 785 (44%) compared to 1,015 Traineeship starts recorded in 2022/23. The number of starts has increased each year since the programme commenced.

Figure 3.1: Traineeship starts increase in 2023/24

Traineeship starts, academic years 2021/22 to 2023/24

FE colleges

Traineeships are delivered at all six FE colleges. In 2023/24, South Eastern Regional College recorded the highest number of starts, accounting for 24% (435 starts).

Table 3.1: South Eastern Regional College accounts for the largest proportion of starts

Number of Traineeship starts by FE college, 2023/24

Belfast Metropolitan College Northern Regional College North West Regional College South Eastern Regional College Southern Regional College South West College Total
235 260 200 435 375 295 1,800

Age and Sex

In 2023/24, the majority (89%) of Traineeship starts were aged 18 years or under, while 9% (165) were aged 19 to 24 years and only 2% (35) were aged 25 years or over.

Of the total 1,800 starts, 765 were female and 1,030 were male, representing 43% and 57% respectively. 2023/24 recorded a significant increase in the proportion of females compared to 2022/23 when they accounted for 17% (170) of starts.

Figure 3.2: The number of female traineeship starts increased significantly in 2023/24

Traineeship starts by sex for academic years 2021/22 to 2023/24

Occupational areas

The two leading occupational areas for Traineeship starts in 2023/24 were Motor vehicle light and Hairdressing, with 230 (13%) and 225 (12%) respectively. Motor vehicle light was predominantly male starts at 91%, while Hairdressing was predominantly female at 95%.

STEM Indicator

In 2023/24, three fifths (60%) of Traineeship starts were studying a Broad STEM related subject. In total, there were 1,080 Broad STEM traineeship starts, of these 915 (85%) were male and 165 (15%) were female. Approximately, one-third (32%) of Traineeship starts were Narrow STEM.

Number of Traineeship starts by FE college, 2023/24

STEM Indicator Female Male Total
BROAD STEM 165 915 1,080
NARROW STEM 45 505 570
Non STEM 600 115 720

Note: Narrow STEM is a subset of Broad STEM


4. Participation

Participation refers to the total number of students enrolled on a Traineeship programme.

In total 2,245 FE students were enrolled on a Traineeship programme in academic year 2023/24, this included 1,800 starts and 445 in year 2.

NI domiciled Traineeship students by Local Government District (LGD)

In academic year 2023/24 the LGD to record the highest number of NI domiciled Traineeship students in further education was Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, accounting for 395 of Traineeship students.

Map

Map data

Local Government District Participants
Antrim and Newtownabbey 115
Ards and North Down 230
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 395
Belfast 235
Causeway Coast and Glens 160
Derry City and Strabane 180
Fermanagh and Omagh 205
Lisburn and Castlereagh 155
Mid Ulster 210
Mid and East Antrim 105
Newry, Mourne and Down 230
Unknown 35
Total 2245

Multiple Deprivation Measure

Of the 2,210 NI domiciled Traineeship students whose postcode were known, the highest proportion (27%) were from the second most deprived Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM) areas in NI (Quintile 2). The lowest proportion of Traineeship students were from the least deprived Multiple Deprivation (Quintile 5).

Quintile 2 reported the highest number; 475 Traineeship participants.

Figure 4.1: The highest proportion of Traineeship student enrolments were from Northern Ireland’s second most deprived areas

NI Domiciled Traineeship students by Deprivation Quintiles, academic year 2023/24


5. Performance

The Traineeship programme consists of multiple components that contribute to the overall qualification. A student can typically enroll in a full-time vocational qualification (main component), transversal skills and essential skills in numeracy and literacy. This report analyses student performance of the overall Traineeship qualification, the vocational qualification and essential skills. The performance calculations take into account both full and partial achievement of these components.

Traineeship achievement

In academic year 2023/24 there were 1,135 final year Traineeship students. The overall success rate was 79% with 895 students achieving either full or partial achievement in their Traineeship. Full achievement meant obtaining a Diploma or Certificate while partial achievement was awarded to students who successfully achieved at least one component of the Traineeship programme.

Traineeship qualification

Final Year Final Year completer Achieved - Diploma Achieved - Certificate Partial Achievement - Components Retention rate Achievement rate Success rate
1,135 950 325 250 315 84 94 79

Vocational qualification

In 2023/24, 1,135 final year Traineeship students were enrolled on the core full-time vocational qualification, of these four-fifths (80%) achieved either full or partial achievement.

Vocational qualification performance rates, 2023/24

Final Year Final year completer Final year full achievement Final year partial achievement Retention rate Achievement rate Success rate
1,135 950 805 100 84 95 80

Essential Skills

Students who had not previously achieved a Level 2 qualification in literacy and numeracy could enroll on Essential Skills courses as part of their Traineeship. Of the 625 Traineeship students enrolled in their final year of Essential Skills Literacy, 355 students (57%) successfully achieved their qualification. While more students were enrolled in Essential Skills Numeracy (910), the success rate was lower, with 40% (370 students) achieving their qualification.

Literacy and Numeracy qualification performance rates, 2023/24

Essential Skills Final Year Final year completer Final year full achievement Final year partial achievement Retention rate Achievement rate Success rate
Literacy 625 525 355 0 84 68 57
Numeracy 910 745 360 10 82 49 40

Note: Essential skills include up to Level 2. The highest level of achievement is used where a student has more than one enrolment for a subject.


6. Further Information and Contact Details

Excel/Open/CSV Tables

Detailed Excel/Open/CSV Data tables are available here.

Traineeships offer the opportunity to achieve a full level 2 outcome equivalent to up to five GCSEs at grade C or above including maths and English. Further Information on Traineeships can be accessed at Traineeships|nidirect.

For information on technical notes on the methodology used to produce the statistics and information regarding definitions of terms within the report, please see the document: Technical Notes and Definitions.

Contact Details

For further details on any of these statistics, or to provide feedback, contact: (Tel: 028 90 257708)

This publication is produced by Youth Training Statistics and Research Branch, Analytical Services Division, Department for the Economy.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing or via the OSR website.