Shannon Chamber Skillnet, in partnership with Skillnet Ireland, is keen to play its part in helping businesses through the COVID- 19 crisis through responding speedily and effectively to companies’ training needs.

During a video communication with all Skillnet networks in Ireland, the CEO of Skillnet Ireland, Paul Healy, stated that as remote working is likely to be with us for a while, the onus is now on networks to look towards developing and delivering agile and cost-effective eLearning solutions to assist companies through the crisis to recovery.

He stated that boosting management capacity in areas such as business continuity, cash flow management, financial planning, supply chain management, employee relations, business remodelling and product and process innovation are key areas in which companies may need additional expertise and capacity.

Taking these comments on board, the chairperson of Shannon Chamber Skillnet steering committee, Barry Lowe, engineering manager with Lufthansa Turbine Shannon, a leading aero engine parts repair facility in Shannon, stated: “As a Skillnet, we are more familiar with delivering in-class type training but a new era calls for a new approach and that is what we will focus on in the short to medium term. Regardless of whether staff are on site or working from home, training is the ideal way to keep the mind focused and sharp; it’s also ideal for improving personal capability and taking on a new challenge during the crisis we now find ourselves in.

“We are novices in delivering online training but are learning fast. We delivered our first webinar this week; that dealt with managing and supporting remote workers.

“Upcoming webinars include: COVID- 19 Business Survival Strategy for SMEs, which takes place on 9 April from 10-11.30am and, Facing Company Setback and Building Resilience on 16 April from 11am to 12.30pm. Full details on both can be found at www.shannonchamberskillnet.com/events-training/. Both webinars are free to attend.

“Our ask now is that companies would let us know the areas their employees most need training in now and in preparing for a recovery. Now is the best time to plan for a new tomorrow, which the future will most certainly be. Rest assured that the team in Shannon Chamber and the Skillnet network’s steering committee, who are all working in industry and understand the pressure businesses now find themselves in, are more than keen to ensure that when the recovery comes, every employee in this region will have the skills to enrich their current roles or, if required, to switch roles.

“It’s a future without certainty at this point and Shannon Chamber Skillnet wants its members to help frame the recovery by keeping their employees in training. We want to be able to respond quickly and effectively to member company needs. Please therefore forward all suggestions re training required to Helen Downes, Shannon Chamber CEO at hdownes@shannonchamber.ie”, added Mr Lowe.

Details of two webinars hosted by Shannon Chamber/Shannon Chamber Skillnet can be found below:

Technology to support virtual working:  https://youtu.be/X96uB8iiPNE

Managing and supporting remote teams: https://us04web.zoom.us/rec/share/5MEqC5-uyztIerfixUjDV40tN5b7T6a82iVP_6APnU0OZEu25oomdvQHRgWsVUIN