296 local companies avail of Skillnet training

A TOTAL of 296 companies in Wicklow availed of subsided enterprise-led training through the Skillnet Networks last year.

Figures released last week in the 2017 Skillnet annual report show that 21 per cent more companies in Wicklow engaged with training since 2016.

522 trainees are based in Wicklow according to the latest figures.

Nationally the Skillnet report show that only 1 in 17 Irish companies (6 per cent) took advantage of subsidised training with Skillnet Ireland in 2017, with nearly 50,000 trainees undertaking training.

Speaking about Skillnet Ireland’s 2017 results, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton said: ‘Skills are crucial to our competitiveness as a nation and the government is committed to ensuring that we have the right skills to meet the needs of our economy and society.

‘ This is particularly important in the context of the global challenges we now face. Skillnet Ireland plays a key, strategic role in providing for the needs of our workforce and reached nearly 50,000 learners through its learning network in 2017.

‘ We have increased funding to Skillnet Ireland by almost 20 per cent for the current year to reflect the importance of this work.

‘ The promotion of lifelong learning and adapting to technological advances has always been at the core of workforce development.

‘Ensuring that we are ‘future proofed’ to meet new skills challenges, is a critical part of delivering on our ambition to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026,’ said Minister Bruton.