Solas and Enterprise Ireland partner to offer Irish SMEs upskilling programmes

Solas and Enterprise Ireland (EI) have launched a strategic partnership to widen access to upskilling programmes for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMEs), and to help drive their growth and competitiveness in Ireland.

Solas is the State agency responsible for further education and training (FET) in Ireland.

As part of the partnership, the two bodies announced the introduction of two new management development programmes – the cross-sectoral SME Management Development Programme, and the Hospitality and Retail Sector Specific Management Development Programme. 

These initiatives are being run in partnership with local enterprise offices (LEOs) in Cork and the Cork Education and Training Board. They 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)

“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,” said Andrew Brownlee, CEO of Solas.

“Since 2019, over 84,000 employees have engaged in the Skills to Advance upskilling model. 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 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.”

EI CEO Leo Clancy added: “The launch of this partnership recognises the need to increase Irish SMEs’ productivity rates in line with international standards. Leadership and 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.”