SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, and Enterprise Ireland have launched a Strategic Partnership to widen access to upskilling programmes for small, medium and micro enterprises, and to help drive their growth and competitiveness in Ireland. The Strategic Partnership was launched at a breakfast briefing held in the Kingsley Hotel, Cork.
As part of the Strategic Partnership, SOLAS and EI announced two new Management Development programmes, a cross sectoral SME Management Development Programme, and a Hospitality and Retail Sector Specific Management Development Pilot. These initiatives are being run in partnership with Local Enterprise Offices in Cork and the Cork Education and Training Board.
Speaking about the programmes Denis Leamy, Chief Executive of Cork Education and Training Board said: “Cork ETB and Cork College of FET are excited to be piloting the leadership and management development programmes as part of the strategic partnership with SOLAS, Enterprise Ireland, and the Local Enterprise Offices in our region.
At Cork College of FET, we are dedicated to collaborating with industry to offer reskilling and upskilling opportunities for staff, and this leadership and management programme is an excellent pathway for companies to nurture emerging leaders within their organisation.”
We are proud to be piloting two courses – one for the retail sector and one for hospitality – and to further expanding upskilling pathways for rising talent in these industries.”
Since 2019, over 84,000 employees have engaged in the Skills to Advance upskilling model in Further Education and Training (FET). This includes the development of micro-qualifications which have supported businesses to respond to meet the rapidly changing world of work, advances in technology and our commitments to tackling climate change.
Speaking at the launch Dr Niall O’Keeffe, Local Enterprise Office said: “The launch of this partnership recognises the need to support Irish SMEs’ increase productivity rates in line with international standards.
As part of the partnership the Hospitality and Retail Sector Management Development programme announced today for Cork City and County in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office and Cork ETB will address the unique needs of the hospitality and retail industries and aims to equip the sector in the region with the essential leadership and management skills required to compete globally.”
Both programmes, the cross sectoral SME Management Development Programme, and the Hospitality and Retail Sector Specific Management Development Programme are being piloted at local level in 2024 with the aim of rolling them out nationally in 2025 through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
