SOLAS and Enterprise Ireland Launch Partnership to Strengthen Local Enterprise through Upskilling Opportunities

Pictured: L-R  Andrew Brownlee, CEO of Solas and Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland


SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, and Enterprise Ireland (EI) have today launched their Strategic Partnership to widen access to upskilling programmes for small, medium and micro enterprises, and to help drive their growth and competitiveness in Ireland.

As part of their Strategic Partnership, SOLAS and EI announced the introduction of two new Management Development programmes which will support a range of sectors including Hospitality and Retail. These initiatives are being run in partnership with Local Enterprise Offices in Cork and the Cork Education and Training Board.

Speaking at the launch today, Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS said:“ We are delighted to launch our partnership with Enterprise Ireland as we believe it is a real step change in how we support businesses in Ireland to address their current skills needs and adapt to workforce transformation.

Since 2019, over 84,000 employees have engaged in the Skills to Advance upskilling model in Further Education and Training (FET). This includes the development of micro-qualifications which have supported businesses to respond to meet the rapidly changing world of work, advances in technology and our commitments to tackling climate change. 

This important collaboration between the FET sector and businesses announced today will build on the success of industry-led FET provision and support the Education and Training Board (ETB) network to increase their upskilling opportunities available to local enterprise, empowering learners to flourish in their chosen careers while supporting the productivity and sustainability of businesses in Ireland.”

Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: “The launch of this partnership between Enterprise Ireland and SOLAS recognises the need to increase Irish SMES’ productivity rates in line with international standards. 

Leadership & Management Skills has been identified as a significant barrier to growth and these exciting new initiatives aim to equip Irish SMEs with the essential leadership and management skills required to compete globally.”

Both programmes, the cross sectoral SME Management Development Programme, and the Hospitality and Retail Sector Specific Management Development Programme are being piloted at local level in 2024 with the aim of rolling them out nationally in 2025 through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). 

The Strategic Partnership was launch at a breakfast briefing held in the Kingsley Hotel, Cork. 

ENDS

Contact: Katie O’Rourke, SOLAS Communications Manager at: 086-1920708 Email: katie.orourke@solas.ie