Kildare’s Dennison Trailers wins ‘Diversity in the Workplace’ title

Naas employer Dennison Trailers, a family-owned and run business located in Maudlins Cross, Naas, has won a prestigious award at the 2022 Generation Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Awards, taking home a ‘Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace’ award at the ceremony. 

Seven businesses from around the country have been crowned Generation Apprenticeship Employers of the Year by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in an awards ceremony which took place on Thursday, December 8th, 2022 in the Morrison Hotel, Dublin.

Local Naas employer, Dennison Trailers, has been building high-quality trailers for over 50 years, manufacturing skeletals, curtainsiders, tippers, platforms, machinery carriers and drawbar trailers – and a range of specialist trailers for customers. The company received one of seven awards presented, serving as a good example of a company that works to progress diversity in the workplace to benefit apprentices.

Aidan Kinsella CEO, of Dennison Trailers, and recipient of the Employer of the Year award says: “Since 1964, Dennison Trailers, a family-owned business with 175 Irish-based employees, have produced over 65,000 high-quality trailers and have become one of the major players in commercial trailer manufacturing.  

"Our customers include many of the leading haulage companies and transport operators in both Ireland and the UK. We offer offer a broad range of market-leading, innovative, and superbly engineered products, which are second to none. Dennison Trailers attribute our success to a combination of employee engagement, innovation, engineering excellence and a total commitment to customer service. Apprenticeship is very important to our business. It gives us a way of growing our own staff ensuring there is consistency in the quality of the education, work and training they are receiving.” 

The winning employers were selected under two themes, with 26 nominations drawn from micro and SME businesses under theme one, and 57 nominations drawn from micro, SME and large businesses under theme 2. 

The businesses and employers who won an award are:

Abcon Industrial products (Cavan) - Pioneering micro/small employer    

Ecolect Technical Services Ltd (Clare) - Pioneering micro/small employer 

Village Butcher (Dublin) -  Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace 

Dennison Trailers (Kildare) - Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace 

McAree Engineering (Monaghan) - Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace 

Dairymaster (Kerry) - Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace 

Iarnród Éireann (National)  - Workplace excelling in diversity in the workplace 

Minister Harris said: “I want to congratulate Dennison Trailors and all of the winners of the 2022 Generation Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Awards. The standard of entries and nominees reflects the high quality of the apprenticeship system here in Ireland, of which businesses and employers are the backbone. Without employers, there would be no apprenticeship system. We have ambitious aims for apprenticeship in this country, and in order to achieve those aims, we need the expertise, passion, training, support and guidance that employers provide. That is why today we are announcing new measures to support small and medium businesses take on apprentices. One More Job will be aimed at providing the help needed to ensure more companies can be part of the apprentice journey.”

At the event, Minister Harris also announced a new initiative with micro and small employers in 2023, called One More Job, which will provide practical assistance and supports to micro and small employers who currently do not employ apprentices. The National Apprenticeship Office will work in partnership with apprenticeship providers to provide help businesses access apprenticeship as a talent pipeline.

Mary Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office said:“Within the National Apprenticeship Office we are delighted with progress made on expanding apprenticeship opportunities, due to the drive and commitment shown by 21st century employers, education and training providers and industry-led consortia. There are now 66 exciting career paths available under the Generation Apprenticeship banner, and a thriving 26,000-strong community of apprentices in training, school leavers, career changers and people of all ages and backgrounds who are earning while they are learning and developing great careers.

“A key aim of the National Apprenticeship Office is to enable apprenticeship growth and development in Ireland, including better access and inclusion for under-represented groups including women. The gender-based bursary which was introduced this year is a first step, along with the financial incentive of the apprenticeship employer grant. I would like to congratulate Dennison Trailers on their win, and thank each of the incredible employers nominated for an award, and for their commitment to creating apprenticeship opportunities. Thanks to each and every one of you, you are helping to develop Ireland’s exceptional skills talent of the future.”