Each member company is contacted with regard to their individual training needs. This process is also supplemented by requests as the year progresses and companies gain a clearer picture of their training requirements. Companies are free to contact the network manager at any time with course specific requests or modified content on any advertised courses. Where possible these will be accommodated.  The network operates on a first-come first-served basis.

 

Content, duration and dates can be modified to suit the requirements of participants.

All courses are charged at full cost up-front. The network subsequently refunds participants on a quarterly basis. The network is a not-for-profit organisation and is dependent on grant monies from Skillnets Ireland & member companies which comes in tranches. This mechanism prevents any potential cash flow difficulties. Subvention is typically up to 20%.

 

No—let us know what your business requirement is and the network manager can source a vendor and content to suit.

 

Skillnet Ireland is fully supportive of the measures announced by Government this morning, 12 March, which aim to reduce the speed and limit the spread of COVID-19 in an effort to safeguard the protection of public health and that of our stakeholders. We encourage each of our industry groups to work with us to address this unprecedented health challenge.  

The official public health advice (from the HSE) has advised that all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled from 13 March 2020 until 29 March 2020. On the advice National Public Health Emergency Team the Government also recommended that we reduce unnecessary face to face interaction in the workplace and maximise the use of meetings being conducted remotely or by phone. Businesses have been asked to play their part and take sensible measures including the need to reduce social interactions as much as possible.  

On this basis, Skillnet Ireland advises;  

1. Networks must cancel all training activities with over 100 attendees scheduled to take place between 13 March 2020 and 29 March 2020 and to contact all relevant stakeholders.
2. Networks consult with their contracting organisation and steering group to examine the impact of the announcement of these measures on your planned Network activities and Network management teams working arrangements.   
3. Network steering groups are advised to consider postponing any non-essential training programmes, events or meetings between now and the 29 March 2020. Networks communicate any decisions made by the Network with any relevant stakeholders.
4. As with standard course postponements, Networks are advised to communicate with their providers to agree relevant extensions to later this year if this course of action is taken.
5. Networks place a brief information update message on your Network website . We present a draft message overleaf for all networks to ensure consistency of our message. This can be edited to reflect each network.
6. Networks are encouraged to continue to identify ways in which training can be delivered remotely or using technology to continue to offer workforce development supports to businesses, where possible.
7. As outlined yesterday, Skillnet Ireland is actively examining ways in which we can support networks to maximise the use of technology in delivering training. We expect to have some information on this in the coming weeks.

We appreciate that many you have other questions about how this affects your Network Activity, Budget and network expenditure. We shall address these questions in the next Network Update.