€14.5 million Skillnets funding to help jobseekers, employees and companies in Ireland gain the skills they need
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January 25, 2011 (All day)
€14.5 million has been allocated from the National Training Fund (NTF) to Skillnets Ltd. to fund training through over 50 networks nationwide in 2011. Skillnets facilitates training and upskilling in collaboration with local enterprises that is directly relevant to industry needs. Irish companies have a direct input into the types of training offered through Skillnets. If you are a company looking for relevant training for your staff, an employee looking to upskill or a jobseeker seeking to increase your chances of employment you can access a whole range of opportunities through Skillnets networks across the country.
A pilot programme in 2010 delivering training to jobseekers will once again be funded in 2011. There are unique benefits for jobseekers training with Skillnets networks as courses are chosen and needed by industry, jobseekers get the opportunity to train with people in employment and other jobseekers, there is no impact social welfare payments/benefits and the training is free. Skillnets CEO Alan Nuzum commenting on the enhanced Skillnets model said “A pilot survey of jobseekers who took part in Skillnets training courses in 2010, one in five jobseekers stated they had since secured work with one in four progressing into further education/training and one in seven becoming self employed. For trainees, it allows them to maintain relevant skill levels at the cutting-edge of industry and for employers it provides them with immediate access to a pool of highly skilled people with up to date and relevant skills now or when needed in the future.” Jobseekers can search for training courses on http://www.skillnets.ie/job-seekers/find-course.
Other benefits for companies in joining a network in their region or sector is access to subsidised training for staff, input into the type, location and timing of training and the opportunity to create new business contacts and partnerships. Many small businesses have reduced in size leading to management and staff multi-tasking which has created a demand to rapidly acquire new skills. In a survey with member companies, 62% of companies said that participating in a Skillnets network had created new business partnerships and 69% reported key business contacts being generated. Companies can search for networks by region or sector on http://www.skillnets.ie/networks.
If you are currently employed and your company joins a network you could gain new skills to open up your career progression, get access to courses relevant to your company and wider industry with subsidised fees paid by your employer and enjoy the benefits of networking within your sector and or region.
Skillnets is calling on all jobseekers, employees and companies to upskill and help to maintain Ireland’s competiveness. Training courses cover a range of disciplines and there are also sector specific training courses available.
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Interviews and or further information contact: Sinéad McGovern
Tel: 01 20796730, Mobile: 086 3791330 Email: communications@skillnets.com
Jobseekers log on - http://www.skillnets.ie/job-seekers
Companies log on - http://www.skillnets.ie/companies
Employees log on - http://www.skillnets.ie/employees
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SKILLNETS
Skillnets is a state funded, enterprise-led support body dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of training and upskilling as key elements in sustaining Ireland's national competitiveness.
We support and fund networks of enterprises to engage in training under the Training Networks Programme (TNP). These networks are led and managed by the enterprises themselves to design, manage and deliver specific training programmes across a broad range of industry and service sectors nationwide.
Since 1999, Skillnets has facilitated over 50,000 Irish enterprises, in over 300 networks to improve the range, scope and quality of training and allowed over 240,000 employees to upskill and meet their work related training needs.
Types of training
Accounting/Financial, Customer relations, Sales & Marketing, Executive Development, Managerial/Supervisory, Professional, Interpersonal Communication, Language, IT, New Employee Orientation, Health & Safety, Product knowledge, Quality Competition and Business Practices and Technical processes.
Sectors
Agriculture, Business, Construction, Engineering, Environmental Goods & Services, Food & Drink, Green Technology, Health, ICT Manufacturing & Services, Financial Services, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media/audiovisual, Mixed, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Services, Technology, Tourism & Travel, Transportation and Wholesale trade.
