IRD Duhallow Skillnet

Duhallow Enterprise Working Members: Geraldine O’Leary (Vice Chair); Monica Gilmore, Eileen Linehan and Padraic O’Connell (Chair).

First established in 2015, the Duhallow Skillnet has since grown from strength to strength under the steerage of our Enterprise Working Group. The purpose of the Skillnet is to allow businesses to upskill their staff through affordable, quality training that is delivered locally in Duhallow or online. Skillnet is a programme that operates on a joint investment model, where Government grants are combined with contributions from enterprise, thus reducing costs and other barriers for businesses. Skillnet Ireland has received international recognition as a best practice model from the EU, the OECD, the ILO, amongst others. The Duhallow Skillnet supports in excess of 500 businesses annually to develop the talent and skills they need to compete, innovate and grow. During the period of 2015 – 2021 we achieved the following highlights:

• 5916 Employed Trainees participated in our training programmes; • 372 Unemployed Trainees participated in our training programmes; • 29139 Employed Training Days delivered; • 11247 Unemployed Training Days delivered; and • 67 Non Formal Events delivered.

These achievements are made across a wide range of courses and sectors encompassing bespoke seminars, lunch and learns and QQI modules all the ways up to 7 and 8 degree levels.

“The IRD Duhallow Skillnet is an excellent resource for organisations in the Cork North West region and Aldi’ s experience in dealing with them has always been very positive. The funding that the IRD Duhallow Skillnet provides enhances the Aldi training programme by allowing us to develop and upskill our colleagues in an efficient and cost-effective manner ” . Katie O’Connor, HR, Aldi

Childcare

The Skillnet funding model is enterprise led and through the IRD Duhallow facilitated North Cork Childcare Network, local childcare managers identified a need to upskill staff to level 7 degrees, which not only was beneficial to the staff and the company they were working in, but in turn also made services eligible for higher capitation grants. During the 2021 term IRD Duhallow delivered two training Level 7 degrees in Early Childhood Care and Education in conjunction with IT Carlow. Plans are underway for a follow on level 8 programme to be delivered in 20222023. This Autumn we saw the first graduation of a level 8 programme funded by Duhallow Skillnet, as the first graduates of the 2020-2021 programme were conferred with their certificates in Early Childhood Care and Education.

Networking

Networking is an integral part of the work undertaken by the Skillnet. Informal learning from other businesses is as important as the formal classroom based education, allowing trainees to learn from one another and share experiences. Duhallow Skillnet places an emphasis on generating networking opportunities for local businesses. During Covid restrictions, networking events were held online including a briefing on ecommerce for your business and the winter lunch and learn series. Thankfully, with the lifting of restrictions, we were once again able to hold an in person business breakfast in April.

Maura Walsh, CEO with Cork County Mayor Gillian Coughlan and Paula Cogan from Cork Chamber along with other special guests at The Duhallow Business Breakfast The Duhallow Business Breakfast was extremely well attended and featured a wide range of speakers in relation to business strategy and development.

Skills Connect

Skills Connect is a separate strand of funding delivered by Duhallow Skillnet. The programe is designed in partnership with enterprise to enhance cross-sector employability and support people who have lost their jobs. It offers a suite of bespoke upskilling and training solutions, designed by enterprise, aimed at supporting re-entry into the workforce. In conjunction with the large number of nursing homes in the region we have successfully delivered our third Health Care Support Worker Programme, which is a full time course spread across eight months and requires the candidate to complete 100 hours work experience in health care settings. We are proud of the fact that 85% of our course graduates have gone on to employment in the sector and others have pursued further education opportunities.

This year we are delivering our first level 5 major award in childcare through skills connect. The programme is supporting 20 individuals participate in training. This will take place over nine months. Given that the trainees on our skills connect programmes have often been distanced from the labour market for quite some time, we take a holistic approach involving the use of many soft supports including coaching as well as basic computer and study skills.

Participants of the Gel Nail Polish Course

Graduates of the 2020-2021 Skills Connect programme who achieved a level 5 qualification in Health Care Support Worker from Minister for Education Norma Foley.