Transform your Business with Green Skills micro-qualifications
With climate change and environmental sustainability among the most compelling issues of our time, many businesses are now looking for ways to adapt to the green transition by reducing their impact on the environment and ultimately becoming more resilient in the face of new challenges. Upskilling staff in Green Skills is becoming recognised as an essential part of future-proofing businesses, while empowering employees to act as agents of change in tackling climate change.
There has never been a better time to train staff, with the recently launched and subsidised Skills to Advance, Green Skills micro-qualification suite of programmes an excellent starting point for companies looking to take the first step on their sustainability journey. Designed to boost awareness of the key environmental sustainability issues that affect employers and employees, Green Skills micro-qualification programmes equip companies with the skills to make a positive contribution to sustainability in the workplace.
These courses have been developed under the
Skills to Advance initiative, which provides subsidised upskilling for companies and those in employment, funded by SOLAS, the State agency with responsibility for Further Education and Training (FET). The programmes have been created in collaboration with SOLAS, the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), the Environmental Protection Agency, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,
Irish Water, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and the Regional Skills Fora.
Since 2019, more than 50,000 people have attended a Skills to Advance course. Provided by the ETBs across the country, the courses are delivered in a flexible, blended learning format, with tutor support and online digital resources to enhance the learning experience and to suit operational requirements of participating companies and their workforce. These courses are a fantastic opportunity for career development within companies, empowering business owners and employees with the skills to create more sustainable, competitive and profitable companies, while future-proofing jobs.
Jon Geary, co-founder of Little Mamma’s Gelato, an awardwinning handmade gelato shop in Donegal Town, recently completed the Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace micro-qualification course run by the Donegal ETB. Jon has used the knowledge he gained from the course to change the business’s approach to packaging, loyalty programmes, water, and electricity. He found that the course helped in taking action to transform different parts of the business to more sustainable practices, with impressive cost savings.
“All these actions have benefit to our business as we are saving money and helping the environment when doing so,” Jon explains. “The course is a fantastic opportunity for any business owner or staff member to learn about all the actions that can be introduced into their business to help with sustainability and protecting the environment. If everyone tries to do their best, it will make a huge difference globally.”
There are currently seven micro-qualification courses that are awarded at levels 4 to 6 on the NFQ, including Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace, Sustainable Procurement, and Circular Economy and more. These programmes form part of a broader suite of national Green Skills FET programmes that aim to equip every learner with green skills and sustainability awareness to become agents of change in climate action.