The Accel Programme Final Evaluation 2006-2008 report is published

The Accel Programme Final Evaluation report 2006-2008 was officially launched by Minister of State at the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Séan Haughey in The Westin Hotel, Dublin on 29 August 2008.

The Accel Programme is an in-company training initiative aimed at accelerating the skills of people at all levels within firms in Ireland. It received EU financial support of €16.8 million through the European Social Fund, with companies providing a further € 7 million in cash and wage contributions. Skillnets Ltd., the enterprise-led skills training organisation, was appointed as the Training Support Unit for the Accel Programme following a competitive tendering process.

The report highlights;

• Over 9,000 companies participated in the Accel Programme
• 29,310 workers receiving skills training
• The programme delivered total of 131,631 training days delivered at an average cost of €181 per day
• 90% of trainees confirmed satisfaction with both the quality and relevance of the training they received

Over 50% of Accel training included accreditation which trainees saw as a major benefit and opportunity to convert years of experience into recognised qualifications

Click here to download a copy of the full press release

You can access a copy of the report at http://www.skillnets.ie/skillnets/resources/publications.html

Skillnets Introduces New Online Filter Search

Skillnets is pleased to introduce a new online network filter to the Skillnets website.

Skillnets currently funds 123 networks which operate in a broad range of regions and sectors. This new facility will enable you to filter these networks by region and/or by sector.

To begin searching you simply click on the drop down box above the required column and select how you want the networks filtered. For example, by choosing the Technology sector the page will only display networks operating in the technology sector. You can then further refine your search by filtering the remaining networks by Region for example by choosing the West region. The final result of this search will display all networks in the Technology sector that operates and provides training in the West region.

We hope that this new facility will enhance the ease with which you can access information on our networks.

Following on from this we are pleased to announce that we are now in the process of adding in a new section to each of the network pages that will outline the categories of training provided by each network. We hope to complete this process in the near future.

This new online filter can be accessed by clicking on the map of Ireland on the left hand navigation of the Skillnets home page entitled Learning Networks for You.

(l-r) Skillnets Chairperson Domhnall Mac Domhnaill and Minister Kelleher T.D. at the National Conference

7th May 2008/7ú Bealtaine 2008

Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher, T.D., launched the Skillnets National Conference, Real Skills, Real People, Real Business: Learning our way to success: The Skillnets perspective, on Wednesday 7th May 2008 to over 300 delegates in the Croke Park Conference Centre.  Anne Heraty, Chief Executive, Cpl Resources Plc & Chair, Expert Group on Future Skills Needs addressed the conference as keynote speaker.  Dr. John Bowman, Broadcaster and Historian acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the day.

The theme of the bi-annual conference reflected the realities and challenges facing enterprise today in the midst of ever-changing local and global economies. It reflected the core of the work of Skillnets and brought together the work of over 100 networks and their member companies across regions and sectors, to share their experiences in the demanding landscape of the continuous need to upskill workers. 

The Training Networks Programme (TNP) Summary Report 2006 – 2007 and Case Studies 2006 – 2007 were launched.  A report titled “Measuring the Impact of Training for the Low Skilled” also launched reported on the challenges of upskilling low-skilled employees across a range of business sectors and proved a positive return-on-investment for the companies involved.