FET is for Employers

In fact, #FETIsForEveryone, but this week we're taking a look at some of the employers across Ireland who are discovering the value of further education and training, for their staff and their businesses.

Through thousands of further education and training courses and initiatives, companies are upskilling staff with the skills required to develop their business and compete in their sectors.  

The notion that learning should be concentrated in our youth and is enough to last people their entire career is no longer feasible. We should all be continually adding to our skills set throughout all stages of our lives including in the workplace. From apprenticeships and traineeships to part courses, there are options for employees and employers alike for up-skilling and re-skilling, as well as ‘earn-while-you-learn’ programmes which benefits both employers and learners.

Below, you can read about a few employers who have benefited from further education and training.

Novartis, Co. Cork

“The Cork Training Centre’s Biopharma Training Facility is a key strategic partner to our business on an ongoing basis. Novartis is proud to be associated with the facility which has supported our operation in Ringaskiddy in many different ways over the years, most notably with the on-going supply of trained and knowledgeable talented people who have joined our team and contributed to our making medicines process. Continue success to Valerie and the team" - Donal O’ Sullivan, Head of People and Organisation, Novartis.

The Care Team, Dublin

Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB carried out a learning needs analysis with a medium-sized a home healthcare company, The Care Team which employs seventy-two people in Dublin.

The Care Team is owned and managed by former nurses who identified opportunities in the healthcare sector. Their goal is to achieve and maintain excellence in care and provide healthcare services that range from basic support and home help through to complex multi-disciplinary care in the home.

They sought to upskill their employees in a Level 6 Supervisory Management programme to develop management capability in the team. In the five months following the commencement of the course the owner-manager reported to SOLAS that there had been a 20 per cent increase in financial turnover with significant growth in the business, along with a 7.5 per cent increase in staff numbers and a significant decrease in staff turnover. There had been no growth in the previous twelve months.

Hovione Eireann, Co. Cork

“Hovione Eireann interacts with the facility in Carrigaline on a regular basis and values the partnership. It is of great benefit to the local biopharmachem sector and economy to have such a quality training facility on our doorstep.

“The facility provides an excellent source of well-trained talent, several of whom we have successfully hired over recent years to support our business growth. In addition, it provides opportunities for us in terms of practical ‘hands-on’ training and further professional development of our existing staff.

“We were particularly pleased to be able to continue this engagement during a very busy period of production in the midst of the current Covid pandemic, where the trainees fully appreciated the need to adhere to strict safety and social distancing protocols to ensure continued safety and protection of all staff and uninterrupted manufacture of medicine" - Dr. Paul Downing, General Manager, Hovione Eireann, Ringaskiddy.

You can find out about the Apprenticeship programmes offered from just some of the many employers utilising the programmes here.

For information on traineeships, go here. 

For information on Skills to Advance courses for your employees, go here. 

For information on free online upskilling courses with eCollege, go here. 

Find out about all the courses that can work for your business at SOLAS.ie or contact your local ETB. 

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