Big prize for Laois woman and Microsoft apprentice as Laois Rose of Tralee also honoured

Laois woman and electrical apprentice at Microsoft, Emma McCann, has been awarded a national Apprentice of the Year award at a recent event in Dublin’s Mansion House where the Laois Rose of Tralee has also been honoured.

The Mountmellick woman is among a select group of just 12 award winners to win a prestigious ‘Apprentice of the Year’ Industry Award from over 330 nominations nationwide.

Emma McCann, who works with Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, thanked her employer, said in a statment to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that she was honoured to receive the 2025 Award.

"Thank you to everyone at Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited for helping me grow and excel in my career. This achievement reflects the support and encouragement I have received from my mentors and colleagues, and it demonstrates what is possible when we open doors for new talent in the trades.

"I am delighted to receive this award in recognition of my skills and contributions as an apprentice, and I strongly encourage both women and men to consider the rewarding career path that apprenticeships offer. It is especially important for women to see themselves represented in skilled trades—your perspective and abilities are needed, and your success can inspire others to follow," she said.

By coincidence, Ireland’s International Rose of Tralee 2025 and electrical apprentice, Katelyn Cummins was a special guest on the night, with Katelyn awarded the ‘Outstanding Ambassador’ Award, in recognition of her role to raise the profile of apprenticeship careers in Ireland, and in particular as a valued and exciting career path for women.

Katelyn is also the reigning Laois Rose and is doing her apprenticeship at Alpha Drives in Portlaoise.

Coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Office, the awards are now in their fourth year. The nominated apprentices represent exceptional talent and skills from the four corners of Ireland, across 78 apprenticeship programmes. The organisers say the awards spotlight the economic and social contribution of the 30,000 apprentices currently training in Ireland. It is claimed that leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills are at the heart of apprentices’ skillset and career success.

Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin TD presented the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award to County Offaly's David Wren, a Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitter - MAMF apprentice with Novo Nordisk, and presented the Award to Mountmellick’s Emma McCann and 11 other exceptional finalists.

Presenting the awards, Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin, said: “The 330 plus outstanding apprentices nominated for an Apprentice of the Year Award this year demonstrate the enormous wealth of talent we have in this country. I wish to offer Emma Mc Cann, Electrical category winner, my heartfelt congratulations, and to each and every apprentice on their fantastic achievement.”

Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Executive Director at SOLAS added: “Apprentices are at the forefront of skills development in Ireland, providing superb talent and innovation in businesses across the country. These awards celebrate the nominees and showcase the exciting career opportunities that national apprenticeships provide for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) oversees the national apprenticeship system on behalf of Government and is supported by SOLAS, the national further education and training (FET) authority, in the delivery of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. Apprenticeships are now considered a major route to skills development in Ireland and the strategic promotion of the national apprenticeship system is coordinated under the banner of ‘Generation Apprenticeship’ by the NAO. Find out more at www.apprenticeship.ie.