Fund turns small into big business

Skillnets – the national agency responsible for funding and supporting training networks – has announced details of a new €450,000 training fund, aimed at assisting private sector businesses to grow, by addressing their current and future skills needs.

A group of businesses from the same region, or specialising in the same sector, can collectively apply to develop a Skillnets training network, and draw down funding support for the development and delivery of training.

Businesses can be of any size, from a sole trader to multi-national, and the fund will also be open to existing industry federations, industry bodies or enterprise groups.

Skillnets Chairman Brendan McGinty described this as a progressive time for Galway enterprise, with an increase in the number of people in employment, as businesses look to expand.

“Having the appropriate skills, including addressing future skill needs to deal with this expansion, is vital for sustainable development,” he said.

“The success of our open call for Skillnets training networks last year, which resulted in the establishment of eleven new training networks, indicates the growing demand among businesses for relevant and innovative solutions to address skills shortages in the workplace.

“Skillnets is pleased to announce another new fund for Skillnets training networks this year, so that more enterprises looking to expand their business can be assisted in skills development,” he added.

Skillnets operates under a joint investment model whereby participating training networks can apply to receive up to 50 per cent of the cost of training from Skillnets, and the remainder of costs are funded in cash contributions from participating businesses in the training network. The first closing date for the new funding call is 15th March, with a second closing date in November 2016.

Skillnets already supports 63 training networks in a wide range of sectors from manufacturing to information technology and food / beverage and mixed sectoral training networks across many regions.

For networks seeking to access the new call by Skillnets, full details are available on www.skillnets.ie/funding or direct contact can be made through funding@skillnets.com