€2m available from Skillnet Ireland for New Network Development.

Is your workforce ready for the future? Skillnet Ireland announces €2M training fund to help close the widening skills gap

Learning Waves Skillnet is proud to be part of Skillnet Ireland, the national agency responsible for the promotion of workforce learning in Ireland. We are delighted to share the recent news that Skillnet Ireland is offering up to €2M worth of funding for new Network development. This funding will be made available to industry bodies and enterprise groups to develop new Skillnet Networks. The new enterprise-led learning networks will be launched in 2019 and will support Irish businesses in addressing their current and future skills needs. Application information can be found on the funding page https://www.skillnetireland.ie/funding

Lena Murphy, Learning Waves Skillnet Chairperson understands the value of the Skillnet model in relation to her station Beat 102-103, "Learning Waves Skillnets is a an amazing resource for the independent radio sector.  It has helped increase revenue in Beat 102-103.  A number of our sales and promotions team completed the Digital Marketing course and in turn we sell competitions and promotions to our clients on many social media platforms.  This has increased the variety of offers that sales executives can offer clients and in turn this increases Beat’s revenue.  The Mobile Jounalism course has been invaluable to Beat 102-103.  Journalists and presenters have attended this course and cannot say enough about it.  The course has improved content across Beat and this has increased Beat’s listenership".

The Skillnet model is particularly appealing for SMEs as the cost of training is subsidised by Skillnet Ireland. In addition, the design, sourcing and delivery of training is all coordinated by Learning Waves Skillnet, enabling easy access to training but also moving much of the administrative burden away from the company.

Learning Waves Skillnet member Fiona Stack from Radio Kerry highlights what the benefits of engaging with a Skillnet Learning Network are :
"Learning Waves Skillnet hasn’t just shaped our industry from a business point of view, it’s shaped the sound and quality of radio in Ireland. Standards across all skills on and off air have increased as a direct result the training and networking opportunities it provides".

The fund will close for applications at 5pm on Thursday, 8 November 2018.

Skillnet Ireland will hold information briefings on this Funding Call in September in Cork, Dublin and Galway. If your industry federation, industry body or other private sector enterprise group are interested in establishing a new Skillnet learning network, please contact Skillnet Ireland at 01 207 9630 or funding@skillnetireland.ie or visit the funding page https://www.skillnetireland.ie/funding