A new apprenticeship aimed at supporting Ireland’s nonprofit sector is one step closer, with a significant partnership recently announced. The Wheel, Ireland’s national association for nonprofit organisations, has signed an agreement confirming Technological University Dublin as the official education partner in its application to the National Apprenticeship Office for a Level 6 Apprenticeship in Nonprofit Studies. This initiative could become the country’s first dedicated third-level apprenticeship for the nonprofit sector.
Barry Dempsey, CEO of The Wheel, spoke about the impact the apprenticeship could have, saying, “This much-needed initiative will bring our sector in line with other sectors and industries, providing an accredited educational option that is accessible and affordable to a much broader swathe of our sector. For many who have entered the sector through lived experience and contribute daily to an immense collective societal good, certain doors have remained closed due to a lack of formal accreditation; an apprenticeship model for our sector will open those doors and change lives.”
Dr Etain Kidney, Head of School, School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, TU Dublin, added, “TU Dublin is proud to partner with The Wheel on an initiative focused on delivering real, practical skills for the people working across Ireland’s community and voluntary organisations. This work has the potential to be truly transformative for the sector and to create a pathway to formal education through an earn and learn model.”
Maria Couchman, Director of Sector Skills at The Wheel, said, “As a new academic partner, TU Dublin will bring expertise, innovation, and a shared commitment to strengthening skills within our sector. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our ambition to build structured, accessible pathways that recognise and develop the 281,000 people powering Ireland’s community and voluntary organisations.”
Sharon Hughes, Leadership Academy Manager at The Wheel and Apprenticeship Coordinator, explained how the programme was developed, “We have been working with our members over the past two years to develop an apprenticeship that will deliver practical training to people working in our sector, and ensure our essential services are led by highly skilled professionals into the future. Teaming up with TU Dublin as our education partner is a huge step in moving this project forward.”
Dr Lorraine Sweeney, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, TU Dublin, concluded, “This initiative represents a significant step forward for the sector, offering an exciting opportunity for those in the sector to gain practical, transformative skills that will advance their careers and strengthen the sector. At TU Dublin, we are proud to support this partnership, reflecting our commitment to practice-based and research-informed education.”
The Wheel and TU Dublin plan to apply to the National Apprenticeship Office in early 2026.
For more information about the apprenticeship, contact Sharon Hughes, Apprenticeship Coordinator, at sharon@wheel.ie.
