Shannon Chamber welcomes the appointment, by Limerick Institute of Technology, of Joe Leddin as the new MWRS Manager.

The primary role of the regional skills manager is to link industry with educational and training providers so that course provision and programmes designed will meet the skill needs of industry.

The work plan within each region is being driven by key stakeholders in the region including employers, enterprises and education and training providers thereby ensuring that the responses developed are tailored to the unique identified skills needs.

Joe is a former graduate of LIT in Business & Marketing, and holds a Masters in Third Sector Management from UCC. Joe previously held the position of National Accounts Manager with Canon UK & Irl for several years before working as a political advisor to former Minister for Education & Skills Jan O’Sullivan T.D.

The Mid-West Region is now one of the fastest growing regions in the Country with a strong industry and educational presence. The region continues to benefit from collaborative partnerships both in the public sector through the Shannon Consortium (UL, LIT & MIC) and in the private sector with Limerick for Engineering and Limerick for IT delivering tangible benefits.

The Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs identifies the role that the regional skills manager will play towards ensuring that the right talent is matched with industry needs so as to enable enterprises remain competitive and sustainable.

As the economy continues to improve opportunities for new careers across a range of sectors such as ICT, Tourism, Life Sciences, Bio-Pharma, Med-Tech, Financial Services, High Tech Manufacturing and Internationally Traded Services now exist.

Through creating new educational and industry partnerships the regional skills manager will endeavour to future proof the supply of work ready, skills ready talent so that the Mid West region retains its attractiveness for existing companies to expand and new FDI.