Chambers Ireland strongly supports Minister Harris’s commitment to Skillnet
Speaking after Ministers Harris’s designation of Skillnet as the lead organisation for public-private workforce development, Chambers Ireland’s Head of Policy, Shane Conneely said:
“With the country at full employment, our members are struggling to find new people to fill skills gaps in their enterprises. With the housing conditions as tight as they are, it is often not feasible to attract people from abroad to fill roles in Ireland.
“This means that in the coming years we will become increasingly reliant on developing skills within our workforce and among our existing employees.
“Skillnets is an excellent model for helping Irish businesses to develop internal talent. Skillnets around the country are formed by coalitions of businesses that identify the skills-gaps that affect them. Some organise across sectors, but others co-ordinate regionally, seven of our member chambers organise local Skillnets for their area.
“We urge all businesses that are struggling to find the skills they need to engage with their regional or sectoral skillnet organisers to find out more about the supports that are available.
“2023 will be the ‘European Year of Skills’, and from our discussions with our peers in Eurochambres, the organisation of national Chambers of Commerce and Industry from across Europe, we know that Irish businesses are extremely well supported relative to their competitors.
“Skillnet is one of the best public-private models in the workforce development space available anywhere.
“When it comes to skills development, often the biggest knowledge gap among owner-managers is the knowledge of how to navigate the supports that are available, so in advance of the ‘European Year of Skills’ we urge all managers across the country to invest some time to see how they can better invest in their people.”
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For Further Information:
Shane Conneely, Director of Policy and Communications, 086 3244 940 or email shane.conneely@chambers.ie
About Chambers Ireland:
Chambers Ireland is the voice of business throughout Ireland, with 40 member chambers across every major city, town and region of the island. Aligning our strategic priorities with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, our aim is to make places better to live, work and do business