In the two years since setting up a Skillnet, Shannon Chamber has offered 64 training courses to over 500 employees in 216 of its member companies, which has enabled these businesses to maintain their competitive edge through keeping themselves up to date with new developments in their sectors and enabling their employees to gain new skills and qualifications.

As it heads for year three of operating a Skillnet, the Chamber is now asking member companies to be proactive in assessing their training requirements for the next twelve months. Each member is being asked to complete an online training needs analysis (TNA) which currently offers a menu of 50 training options covering soft skills such as time management, personal effectiveness, influencing and negotiating skills and also includes a range of training options in operational excellence and computer skills’ disciplines.

Companies are also asked to suggest any specific training requirements they may have that are not covered in the TNA but which would add value to their organisations.

Calling on companies to set aside adequate time to complete the survey, Shannon Chamber chief executive Helen Downes said: “Skillnets training is free for employees. Fees are paid by employers and Skillnets so it’s an ideal mechanism for companies to source training that is of a very high quality. The fact that employers get an opportunity like this to request the training they need is so beneficial. It means they are giving their staff the opportunity to assimilate new knowledge that will offer payback to their companies in so many ways.

“As highlighted recently in a presentation given by Willis Towers Watson on the employee value proposition, many people today evaluate companies on the opportunities they offer to employees to upskill and take on new learning. Companies who have already availed of training through Shannon Chamber Skillnet have said that is has been uniquely effective in attracting new staff and has made their staff more valuable as they are becoming multi-skilled and are upskilling all the time.

“We would strongly urge any company preparing a training plan for 2018 to complete the training needs analysis to ensure that we can include the course they require in our application to Skillnets for 2018 funding. That means that we can lock in the exact training our members need,” added Ms Downes.

Shannon Chamber Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets, funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education.

The Skillnet model is enterprise led and the basis of Shannon Chamber Skillnet’s 2018 application is based on feedback and requests for training from member companies. The success of this application and the amount of funding approved is guided and determined by the training needs of a specific network. 

The feedback from this TNA will allow Shannon Chamber Skillnet to establish the types and levels of training it needs to deliver from Q1 2018 to Q4 2018 to support member companies. This approach will also ensure it will deliver programmes that will be relevant and offer value-add to employers doing business in the region. 

The Training Needs Analysis (TNA) survey can be completed by clicking on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCS2018