MORE Limerick businesses are prioritising staff training and retention as they compete for the talent needed to expand their enterprise.
MORE Limerick businesses are prioritising staff training and retention as they compete for the talent needed to expand their enterprise.That’s the message from Skillnets, the national agency responsible for funding and supporting training networks, as it launched its Annual Report for 2015 this week.
Figures from the report reveal that the number of businesses in Limerick accessing Skillnets supported training grew by 16 per cent in 2015, with 678 businesses investing in their staff across a range of sectors.
In Limerick, 1,866 trainees availed of 14,688 training days delivered to businesses during 2015.
Nationally, 85 per cent of the businesses that benefited from investment in training through Skillnets in 2015 were SMEs, with 250 staff or under.
According to Skillnets chairman, Brendan McGinty, businesses are battling for talent in a competitive marketplace, resulting in many looking inwards to develop existing resources to meet their growth objectives.
“Behind the country’s pattern of economic growth during 2015, thousands of Irish and foreign-owned businesses have expanded to meet increased demand by investing in their workforce. A renewed focus on lifelong learning is also fast becoming a priority for employers as a key tool for retaining staff,” Mr McGinty explained.
Skillnets chief executive Paul Healy said that for local businesses, it was not just about investing in workforce training alone as the quality and impact of the learning experience is critical for adding maximum long-term value.
“Undertaking detailed training needs analysis, forecasting market trends and projecting future skills requirements are all core elements of the Skillnet proposition”, he said.
by Alan Jacques
