NI Traineeships - Non-employed Pathway

A traineeship is a programme designed to help you prepare for a job that interests you. It combines hands-on work experience in the industry you want to enter with the personal skills employers look for. You’ll also have the opportunity to improve your English and Maths.

Where Can a Traineeship Take Me?

A traineeship leads to a Level 2 qualification.

If you are training in some sectors, you may also gain certificates in skills and knowledge such as health and safety, or manual handling.

  • Most traineeships take one year to complete
  • From a traineeship, you can progress to a full-time job, a Level 3 apprenticeship or Level 3 further education.

What Will My Traineeship Cover?

  • Qualification(s) in your chosen area of work
  • Basic skills needed to work in your chosen area
  • Personal employability skills
  • Work placement
  • English and Maths as needed
  • Digital skills
A brick wall being constructed
Female student sanding a wooden desk

SERC offers traineeships in the following areas:

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Beauty & Holistic Therapies

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Computing/Software Engineering/Networking

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Electrical Installation

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Sport & Recreation

Getting you Ready for Work

As well as training you in skills for your chosen area of work, you will also be helped to develop personal skills that employers look for, such as:

  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Time management
  • Entrepreneurship

On a Traineeship at SERC, you will gain real skills for real life, with hands-on learning, exploring real-world challenges and problems. Each course has been developed with employers to ensure that what you learn will help you in your future career.

Applicants will be required to hold a minimum of a Level 1 qualification, defined as 4 GCSEs at grades D-G including Maths and English at grades D-F, or equivalent. However, most areas will require higher grades in Maths and English.

You can find details of entry requirements in the course information on this website.

A traineeship leads to a Level 2 qualification.

If you are training in some sectors, you may also gain certificates in skills and knowledge such as health and safety, or manual handling.

  • Most traineeships take one year to complete
  • From a traineeship, you can progress to a full-time job, a Level 3 apprenticeship or Level 3 further education.
If you are required to engage with online learning SERC may facilitate this by lending the IT equipment which you require.
Trainees will receive free Health and Safety Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). There may also be a requirement for trainees on Health and Social Care courses to be vaccinated when undertaking placements in hospital settings.

Trainees will receive a high level of pastoral care from College staff with appropriate support mechanisms in place. SERC will allocate you a Training Support Officer who will assist you throughout your qualification.

ROI trainees are eligible to apply to undertake a Traineeship. You may be eligible to apply for Back to Education support if you are currently in receipt of a Social Welfare payment.
  • All financial support available to eligible FE students will also be available under the same terms for trainees, including Education Maintenance Allowance, a Further Education Grant and a travel pass.
  • Trainees aged 18 or over on 1st July may be eligible for financial assistance from the College Hardship Fund. This is also means tested and can cover childcare costs if not available through other funding streams.
  • You can read full details here.