Combilift and CMETB mark decade of engineering traineeship

09 May 2025 CW Team

Combilift and the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) have marked 10 years of their collaborative OEM Engineering Traineeship. Launched in 2015, the initiative addresses the regional skills gap in manufacturing and engineering, with over 150 graduates to date and a job placement rate exceeding 80 per cent.

Held at Combilift’s Monaghan headquarters, the celebration drew past and present trainees, highlighting how the nine-month course—combining 26 weeks of classroom learning with 12 weeks of hands-on training—has evolved with industry needs. Course content now includes modules in Hydraulics, Lean Manufacturing, and Mathematics.

The programme is fully funded, with EU and government support, and trainees receive a €300 weekly bursary during placements. Additional certifications, including City & Guilds and Lean Six Sigma White Belt, enhance employability.

CMETB plans to expand the programme to include other regional employers. With applications open for September 2025, the initiative remains a strong model of industry-education partnership. “We’re proud to continue building talent right here,” said Martin McVicar, Managing Director, Combilift.

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..