Pictured at the Mid-West Regional Skills Forum and Shannon Chamber event in Ei Electronics in Shannon (from left): Eimear Brophy, Limerick and Clare ETB; Brigid Della Pace, TUS Mid-West; Peter Murphy, Ei Electronics; Helen Browne, University of Limerick; Joe Leddin Mid-West Regional Skills; Padraic McElwee, Clare Local Enterprise Office; Mary Jo Parker, Innopharma Education; Gerard Murray, Next Level Skillnet; and Helen Downes, Shannon Chamber. Photo: Eamon Ward.
The turnout at a recent Mid-West Regional Skills Forum and Shannon Chamber collaborative event held in Ei Electronics Centre of Excellence in Shannon clearly demonstrates the keenness of Shannon’s workforce to improve their skills through acquiring new knowledge.
The event showcased the wide range of part-time, online, and flexible learning courses available in the Mid-West region through the University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Griffith College, and Shannon Chamber Skillnet.
Attendees were drawn from a wide range of companies and from many levels within those organisations.
Joint organisers Helen Downes, chief executive, Shannon Chamber and Mid-West Regional Skills Forum manager Joe Leddin speaking after the event said: “’There was positive engagement between education and training providers with both employees and talent development managers across industry sectors kindly hosted by Ei Electronics.
“As the labour market continues to tighten, staff retention and career development through upskilling are core priorities for businesses. Bringing education and training on-site into industry, although not unique, does enable greater engagement and understanding amongst employees of the range of courses on offer particularly short online accredited programmes that can assist with career progression.
“Hosting the event in Ei Electronics automatically gave hundreds of employees access to the institutes that were there to address any questions on the day. We hope the event will have encouraged attendees to evaluate their skills requirements and that they will now apply to participate in some of the many upskilling options available.”
