Local businesses all over Ireland can take advantage of highly subsided, fully accredited training to help future-proof their organisations. Further Education and Training (FET ) programmes, developed under the Skills to Advance initiative, offer employees and employers targeted, flexible upskilling opportunities, all at little or no cost.
While employment is at a record high in Ireland and new industries are emerging, there is clear evidence of the need for significant upskilling and reskilling across the workforce. New national and EU policies, advances in technology, and employment growth are all changing the job role requirements of already established professions. For example, the 2024 National Skills Bulletin found that many accounting and finance professionals are having to upskill to meet the changes in their job profile, brought on by things like environmental, social and governance (ESG ) criteria and corporate social responsibility (CSR ) reporting requirements.
Skills to Advance is a national upskilling and reskilling initiative, created and funded by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training authority. The initiative assists employers in developing new skills in their teams, improving processes and cost savings, and increasing their competitiveness through highly subsidised training. All Skills to Advance courses are delivered locally by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs ) around Ireland.
Since 2019, over 89,000 training opportunities have been availed of under Skills to Advance. Programmes are facilitated in person, online, and in blended learning formats, with tutor support and online digital resources to enhance the learning experience. Programme delivery is designed to be flexible and is scheduled to fit around the operating needs of the business. There is a varied range of courses available, from healthcare and hospitality to digital skills, sustainability, and more.
Included in the Skills to Advance offering are new FET micro-qualifications - bite-sized, accredited programmes that deliver targeted training in rapidly transforming skill areas. To deliver on value and accessibility, FET micro-qualifications are highly subsidised, delivered flexibly, and short in duration - amounting to around 50 hours of tutor and self-directed learning combined. All FET micro-qualifications are designed collaboratively by SOLAS, the 16 ETBs around Ireland, and industry partners to ensure employees receive the most targeted, relevant upskilling.
FET micro-qualifications are available now in priority skill areas, such as digital business skills, green/sustainability skills, business innovation, market development, robotics, and more. New programmes are currently in development to target other emerging skill areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI ) and corporate sustainability reporting. These FET micro-qualifications, and more, will launch throughout 2025. They will be available through the network of local ETBs nationwide.
Contact your local ETB today to find out what Skills to Advance courses are available in your area, or find out more about the initiative at www.skillstoadvance.ie
