Workplus | Real People, Meaningful Careers

Why Apprenticeships Are Transforming Tech Careers 

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk speaks with twin sisters Olivia and Louisa, software engineering apprentices at Teamworks. From their early passion for tech to building products used by elite sports teams, they share an honest and inspiring story of growth, challenge, and the power of real-world experience. This episode breaks down how apprenticeships are opening new doors into tech, how support and curiosity go hand in hand, and why young people don’t have to choose between learning and working. 

A must-listen for parents, teachers, and anyone curious about the future of careers in Northern Ireland.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Apprenticeships provide a valid, valuable alternative to university
• Supportive environments help young people build confidence from day one
• Learning on the job reinforces academic studies
• Collaboration and teamwork are key to growth in tech roles
• Real-world projects create tangible impact and satisfaction
• Tech careers are increasingly accessible to women
• Mentorship from peers strengthens understanding
• Flexibility in remote and hybrid work boosts productivity
• Early exposure to problem-solving builds long-term resilience
• AI is viewed as a helpful tool, not a replacement

BEST MOMENTS

00:00:05. “You're not supposed to know everything. You're meant to go in with a mindset that you're excited to learn.”
00:01:43. “We were able to get involved in a competition… and the result was us being taken to Silicon Valley.”
00:03:06. “Our physics teacher in particular recommended Workplus to help us get started.”
00:04:20. “Every day is different. So you go in and there's a new problem to solve.”
00:06:07. “From the beginning, it's been encouraged that you're not supposed to know everything.”
00:10:40. “We are given the time to do that. It's not all… there isn't a pressure on deadlines as such.”
00:12:13. “From day one, you do feel valued and that your opinions are respected.”
00:13:13. “We offer lots of different products to elite sports teams.”
00:19:26. “Our two last two hiring of apprentices have been fully female.”
00:30:31. “Just continue to work hard and do what you're doing and it will work out.”

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In this episode of Workplus, Richard is joined by Áine McCaughey, Principal Software Engineer at Instil. Áine didn’t grow up dreaming of a job in tech. In fact, she nearly became a biochemist or a secondary school teacher. But a bold nudge from a trusted teacher led her to try computer science, and that changed everything.

Áine shares how she found her feet in software engineering, what her day-to-day work actually looks like, and why she’s so passionate about shaping the future of skills and education in Northern Ireland. She also lifts the lid on Instil’s culture, what makes apprentices succeed, and why industry collaboration matters more than ever.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The path into tech doesn’t have to be perfect or planned. Sometimes the best decisions come from a gut feeling.
• Teachers can change lives. One teacher’s advice led Áine to explore a career she had never considered.
• Real-world experience matters. Getting into a company early opened doors and built her confidence.
• Apprenticeships are a powerful route into tech. Áine says she would have chosen that path if it had been available.
• Software engineering isn’t just about code. It’s also about problem-solving, communication, and end-user impact.
• Instil’s approach blends technical excellence with a strong culture of mentorship and learning.
• Working in tech means every day is different. Flexibility, curiosity, and resilience are key.
• Collaboration across companies is the only way to fix long-term skills and education challenges.
• Software NI is helping bring schools, government, and industry together to align goals and create lasting change.

BEST MOMENTS

01:23 “I don’t have a ‘I was always meant to be a software engineer’ thing… it just sort of happened.”
04:13 “She was the one that encouraged me to put down computer science as a first choice.”
06:33 “Once I’ve made a decision, I’ve made it. That’s it. I’m going here, computer science.”
08:54 “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. I nearly did.”
14:45 “What I intended to do today didn’t happen. My focus became helping someone else.”
18:03 “Try not to get too much in the weeds. Always think, who is this for?”
25:09 “We all want the same thing, young people in jobs, contributing to the economy.”
29:01 “Clients are asking for our apprentices by name. They’re that good.”
32:59 “I’m devastated I wasn’t born 10 years later. I would’ve loved to do an apprenticeship.”
34:00 “I’m acting like a sponge right now. Soaking up everything to prepare for senior leadership.”

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In this episode of the Workplus podcast, Tara Simpson, CEO of Instil and founding member of Software NI, shares her incredible journey from self-taught teenager to leading one of Northern Ireland’s top software companies.

Tara opens up about how a ZX Spectrum in the 1980s sparked his love for technology, why mentorship transformed his career, and how purpose-driven work continues to motivate him. From software engineering to leadership, Tara reflects on building a business from scratch, navigating the rapid rise of AI, and shaping the future talent pipeline in Northern Ireland’s tech sector.

Whether you are a young person, parent, teacher, or employer, this conversation offers unique insights into how early interests can lead to fulfilling careers, why curiosity and purpose matter more than qualifications, and how to thrive in a fast-changing world of work.

⏱ In This Episode:
• How a 14-year-old’s curiosity led to a lifelong career in software
• Building a business from zero customers to a thriving company
• Why Northern Ireland needs to invest in young tech talent
• The real impact of AI on junior and senior tech roles
• Why purpose is the key ingredient for meaningful work
• The crucial role of mentors and good leadership in tech careers
• Tara’s advice for young people navigating career choices today
• How Software NI is helping grow the tech sector for everyone

This is an episode for anyone who wants to understand how careers are built, why purpose matters, and how Northern Ireland’s software sector is evolving.

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

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In this episode of the Workplus podcast, Gina Lonergan shares her inspiring journey from school student to associate software engineer at Liberty IT through an apprenticeship.

Gina reveals how early work experience, practical learning, and a supportive workplace helped her build a thriving career without university debt. From coding and product design to social impact and leadership, she shows how apprenticeships offer so much more than just a job.

Whether you are a young person, parent, teacher, or employer, this conversation will challenge your thinking about traditional career routes and highlight why apprenticeships could be the best decision you make.

⏱ In This Episode:
• Why real work experience can transform career choices
• How apprenticeships help you earn, learn, and grow at the same time
• Busting the myth: software is not just coding in dark rooms
• Supporting young people to explore tech through STEAM Studio
• How employers can benefit from eager-to-learn apprentices
• Breaking barriers for women in tech and creating inclusive workplaces
• The power of mentorship, flexibility, and workplace wellbeing
• Gina’s advice for young people who are curious about tech careers

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

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In the very first episode of the Workplus podcast, Kathleen O’Hare shares her powerful perspective on how education in Northern Ireland must change to prepare young people for the future of work.

From the need to move beyond outdated exams, to breaking the stigma around vocational careers, to ensuring every young person leaves school digitally confident, Kathleen explains what needs to change and how it can happen. She shares examples from her own leadership, including how schools can build stronger employer links, the impact of real-world work experience, and why leadership must be at the heart of education reform.

This is an episode for anyone who believes in creating real opportunities for the next generation.

⏱ In This Episode:
 • Why schools must adapt to a changing world
 • The importance of creating clear pathways into vocational careers
 • Digital skills as a core part of every child’s education
 • How collaboration between schools, employers, and communities changes lives
 • The role of leadership in building a future-ready education system
 • Insights from the Skills Council on where change is already happening

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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This project has been a long time coming. Born out of hundreds of conversations with parents, teachers, employers, and young people across Northern Ireland.

It’s built around a simple idea:

What if careers advice started with real people and real jobs…not just job titles?

In this podcast, we sit down with welders, coders, youth workers, artists, accountants…people doing meaningful work, every day.

Our goal?

To help people see what’s actually out there.

To uncover paths that aren’t obvious.

And to support those guiding the next generation through a rapidly changing world.

Check out the trailer, and if it resonates, I’d love it if you shared it with someone who’s helping shape a future.

First full episode drops Thursday, July 17th at 8am.

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

📩 Know someone who would find this helpful? Share it with a parent, teacher, or future changemaker.

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