Ibec hosts free Galway event for businesses from across the region
Ibec Galway, the group that represents business in the region, has announced plans for an upcoming business seminar in Galway on Thursday, May 14, at the G Hotel, which is aimed at addressing the skills needs of businesses in the region.
The event, entitled 'The skills gap: Making the right connections' runs from 11am to 1pm followed by a networking lunch and it is part of a series of events taking place around the country throughout May.
It will bring together key businesses in the region and the main training and education providers.
Speakers at the Galway event will include broadcaster Sinead Ryan; Managing Director Ireland West Airport Knock Joe Gilmore; Dean of the School of Business at NUIG Kieran Conboy; GMIT Acting President Jim Fennell; Operations Director of Ingersoll-Rand Cormac MacDonncha; General Manager DeCare Dental Insurance Ireland Maureen Walsh; and Ibec CEO Danny McCoy.
"As the region starts to recover, skill shortages are emerging in some key sectors. This will hamper growth unless the education and training system is better aligned with the needs of employers, particularly at a regional level,” said Ibec West Director John Brennan.
“While there are examples of good practice, companies and education institutions are not cooperating enough. The seminars are a chance for companies to discover new ways of addressing the skills gaps in their businesses and in the wider region.
The Ibec Galway event aims to suggest new structures for aligning education and training providers with regional skills needs; to outline the key success factors, the drivers and barriers behind a successful partnership, and to set out how education institutions can better contribute to regional growth
"Cooperation among employers, policymakers and education institutions at a regional level is critical if we want to help those currently out of work. We need to provide the right training and education so that they can take up the new jobs which are being created.
“Cooperation will benefit not only employers and jobseekers, but also serve to reduce unemployment, improve competitiveness and foster inclusive growth for the benefit of the wider region.
"The involvement of employers in training and education can take many forms. It could include exchanging information on the skills needs of the local labour market, employer involvement in the design and delivery of programs, the placement of graduates in local businesses, advice and services to SMEs, facilitating networks in business clusters and incubating spin-offs in science and technology parks," added John Brennan.
For more information and to book a place see www.ibec.ie/0/skillsgap.