Skillnets News - Issue 1, November 2007

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NOVEMBER 2007
Boosting
Skills and
Productivity
from the Chief Executive’s desk
It is my pleasure to bring you the first edition
of ‘Skillnets News’.
Work-life balance subsidies for SME's
The National Framework Committee on work-life balance is
offering a subsidy to firms with fewer than 250 employees
to explore the possibility of introducing work-life balance
or flexible working arrangements for staff. Up to five days
of consultancy support is available. Work life balance
consists of the implementation of working arrangements
and policies which assist workers in combining employment
with other aspects of their lives. Employers can benefit
from these policies too as they can help to develop a more
committed and productive workforce.
For more information
log on to: www.worklifebalance.ie
2007 kicked off with ‘Training that works, it's in your
hands’, the public awareness campaign for the Training
Networks Programme 2008–2009 in March this year.
The campaign was followed by a very active development
grant stage for potential new networks, culminating in
final applications for funding from existing and developing
networks at the end of September. Skillnets will publicly
announce information on approved networks for 2008–
2009 once our funding levels are clear and contracts
are in place. I would like to take this opportunity to
acknowledge the effort and hard work of all those
involved, both existing and developing networks.
Both Accel and the Training Networks Programme
continued to strive throughout 2007 with lots of
successful developments in a wide variety of sectors
and regions. This newsletter highlights some of those
developments and events.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all
network and project managers and promoters who
participated in our annual Client Satisfaction Survey.
The results will be available in early 2008.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone
a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Alan Nuzum
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Workplace Innovative Fund
Graduations
Recent Events
FETAC Quality Assurance Approval for 3 Networks
page 2
page 4
page 5
page 8
Network News
Workplace Innovation Fund
In January 2007, the Taoiseach announced the establishment
of the Workplace Innovation Fund. This fund provides up to
€6 million over a three-year period for supporting workplace
innovation. The fund is administered by Enterprise Ireland,
in collaboration with the National Centre for Partnership
and Performance (NCPP). The National Workplace Strategy
highlights the important role of workplace innovation in
supporting Irish companies to develop their competitiveness.
Workplace innovation is about finding new ways of doing
things in the workplace, such as team working, decision
making, problem solving, training, development and learning.
It’s about the design and adoption of new workplace practices,
structures, relationships and ideas in the development of
products and services as well as operations and processes.
Skillnets has agreed to support the NCPP in promoting this new
fund to our networks across the country. The NCPP website
provides evidence and case studies on workplace innovation
and the benefits of partnership and its role in improving
performance. The Enterprise Ireland website provides full
information on the application process.
For further information log on to:
www.enterprise-ireland.com or www.ncpp.ie
Channel 4 TV guru visits the West
The Gréasán na Meán Skillnet welcomed the renowned
Stuart Cosgrove, Director, Nations & Regions, Channel 4
television in July of this year. Mr. Cosgrove gave a seminar
on Channel 4 requirements, good stories, commissions,
the Channel 4 Research & Development Programme and
growth and development within Channel 4.
Orla King, Promoter, Grésán na Meán Skillnet, Carl Blake, Senior
Programme Manager, Máire Ní Thuathail, Managing Director of
EO Teilifís, Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4’s Director of Nations and
Regions and Christy King, Manager Director of GaelMedia.
US visit for Business Excellence
Skillnet
The Irish Centre for Business Excellence (ICBE), in association
with Business Excellence Skillnet, organised a best practice visit
to study US models for sustainable growth in manufacturing
and service sectors. In March this year, the Lean Symposium
‘A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Prosperity in a fiercely
competitive Global Market’ was held in Dromoland Castle. Mr.
Ken Kreafle, General Manager, Production Engineering, Toyota
Engineering and Manufacturing America issued an invitation
to members to visit Toyota Motors. This invitation culminated
in a delegation visiting Toyota, the University of Kentucky, Trim
Masters, the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) and Wells Fargo Bank
during a week long tour in September.
Senior executives from EMC, VHI Healthcare, Honeywell, Shannon
Aerospace, Lake Region, Allergan, Avocent, IBM, Green-Isle Foods,
BSCI, Vistakon, Analog, C&D Foods, Intel, Dell and Bausch &
Lomb took part in the visit to see at first hand how US companies
have adopted best practice policies to achieve sustainable growth.
In every respect, the best practice visit exceeded all participants’
expectations and some of the comments are included below.
“Congratulations on organising and running such an excellent and
important event this week. We are indebted to you and ICBE
and the Business Excellence Skillnet”. SHANNON AEROSPACE
“This has been by far the best benchmarking trip I’ve been
on – a fantastic job, learnt loads, had fun. Thanks a million.
Best learning experience in my career so far – exceeded all
my expectations in the first two days but the whole week
was just brilliant” BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORK
“Great trip, outstanding organisation, exceeded all my
expectations” VHI
“Super trip, a best in class benchmarking tour. Great contacts
and good foresight, an excellent trip well beyond the group’s
expectations” DELL
This US visit was designed to assist senior executives, from
a wide range of organisations, in devising Lean strategies
for Irish-based service and manufacturing companies in order
to facilitate moving their organisations’’ performance from
acceptable to exceptional. The output from the US best practice
visits is available in a workbook format.
Contact the Business Excellence Skillnet – 061 503075
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Network News
Rocket Science! Three in a row.
Space Industry Skillnet member, ACRA CONTROL LTD, based
in Dublin have shown how hard work and high-end skills
development can pay off with real commercial opportunities
in the international space industry. The company has had
three outstanding space related successes.
On 27th September 2007, a Boeing Delta II rocket lifted the US
‘DAWN’ spacecraft into orbit to start its journey to the Asteroid
belt. The rugged data acquisition equipment produced by
ACRA CONTROL had been selected by Boeing. The equipment
performed flawlessly during the launch of the Delta II rocket
providing valuable engineering information to Boeing and is
a testament to the quality of the company's growing expertise
in this area.
On 2nd October 2007, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (a US company
responsible for building the first stage of NASA's Ares 1 vehicle,
which will carry humans to the moon) revealed that it had
successfully conducted the first in a series of six parachute
tests for NASA's Ares 1 vehicle deceleration system including
a one-ton, 50m diameter Ares main parachute, one of the
largest parachutes of this type in use. ACRA CONTROL was
selected to provide equipment to monitor engineering
information during these system tests. NASA has taken delivery
of a Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) system and
associated ground station from ACRA CONTROL.
The rocket will carry the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and a
new generation of space explorers into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
It will provide crew and cargo access to the International Space
Station (ISS) after the Space Shuttle finally retires, and later
will contribute to the launch capability required for the next
phase of lunar exploration.
On 3rd October 2007, ACRA CONTROL were selected by the
European Space Agency to provide the data acquisition
equipment & support to the ‘COLUMBUS Health Monitoring and
Environment Characterisation System’ which will fly as part of
the European Draw Rack on the COLUMBUS module attached
to the International Space Station. The COLUMBUS module
will be launched on 6th December 2007. The ACRA CONTROL
equipment will be flown separately on 14th February 2008.
Managing Director, ACRA CONTROL, Fergal Bonner said
“Staff from all levels with ACRA CONTROL have benefited from
training provided through the Space Industry Skillnet from
the Space Quality Assurance course to the practical Space
Electronic Assembly courses amongst others. The training has
mproved our competitiveness in the highly specialised space
industry and we are now winning prestigious business in the
world space market such as the Delta II, Ares 1 and International
Space Station projects.”
Networks Go Digital
The Print and Packaging Skillnet launched
a DVD in September focused on health
and safety in the Irish print and packaging
industry. Included on the DVD are modules
on manual handling, hazardous substances
and ergonomics. Also included is a CD with
extractable individual modules (Mpegs)
which can be incorporated into a company’s
audio-visual training programmes.
Contact: Print & Packaging Skillnet
01 8520018.
The IFA Skillnet launched ‘Building
on Success’, a DVD guide for farmers
undertaking building construction
interested in maximising their income
with support schemes secured by the
Irish Farmers Association (IFA). The DVD
was produced in partnership with FBD
Trust and ESB Networks.
Contact: IFA Skillnet 01 4500266
innovative DVD, as a training tool aimed at
increasing awareness and understanding
of cultural diversity in our everyday lives.
Mr. John McGuinness T.D., Minister for Trade The training tool is available in six different
and Commerce launched a new innovative languages and has a corresponding on-line
DVD and on-line accreditation system
system which will allow individuals to
entitled ‘Living and working in a diverse undertake computer based training in
Ireland’ in November.
order to achieve a FETAC Level 3 certificate.
It is intended that this training tool will
Carlow EQUAL Employment Programme
be used by schools, colleges, consultants,
in association with Skillnets Ltd and
training centres, trainers, employers and
partners; Carlow County Chamber, County employees.
Carlow Vocational Education Committee, Contact: Carlow EQUAL Employment
Carlow County Enterprise Board and Carlow Programme 059 9720733 /
Local Authorities developed the new and info@carlowequal.ie.
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Graduations
Sixteen graduates were presented with
a “Certificate of Environmental Pest
Management” as part of the Adult
Continuing Education Awards in University
Cork from the Irish Pest Control Accel Project.
Graduates from the “Effective
Personal Productivity” course which
is certified to Level 6 by FETAC run
recently by BizNet Cork Skillnet.
The Irish Software Association (ISA)
Awards took place in November and
the Software Skillnet sponsored the
Student of the Year Award. Promoting
the awards from left to right, Michele
Quinn, ISA Director, Jennifer Condon,
Enterprise Ireland, Noel McArdle, Ulster
Bank, Anne O’Donoghue, Software
Skillnet & Myra Garret, William Fry.
Three of the trainees of Gréasán na
Meán Cultural Dynamo Programme who
SLM Food and Drink Manufacturing
graduated from Galway-Mayo Institute of
Skillnet and the Irish Section of the
Technology in the Radisson SAS Hotel in
Institute of Brewing and Distilling present
Galway. In total 8 graduates completed the
certificates and diplomas in Brewing and
programme. The aim of the Cultural Dynamo
Distilling to the successful candidates at
Programme was to develop 8 Producers/
a gala dinner held in the Radisson SAS
Programme Developers who aspire to be
Hotel in Little Island, Cork in October..
cultural entrepreneurs in the TV industry.
The Club Managers Association of Europe (Ireland) is currently
running a Certificate Course in Club Management as part of the
Accel Programme – the first of its kind in these islands. There are
currently fourteen students enrolled on the course. The students
have completed their first exams in Business Administration and
Business Information Systems. They are currently studying Food
& Beverage Management and Facilities Management in Cork
Institute of Technology.
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Recent Events
Matt Cooper, TV3/Today FM, Chairman at a
recent CREST Skillnet Conference discussing
rugby with incoming CREST Chairman,
Paul Candon, HR Director Topaz Energy.
Pictured at the launch of the KTN
Skillnet's Salary and Benefits Survey
were Kathryn Cronin & Niamh O’Shea,
Killarney Park Hotel, Caroline Costello, SPX
Dollinger, Sean Prendergast, Leanes Fitted
Furniture, Michael O'Carroll & Brian Kissane,
O'Carroll Engineering, Sean Buckley, The
Arbutus Hotel and Mary Ann McDonagh,
KTN Skillnet Network Manager. This is
the first survey of its kind in the Killarney
region providing participating employers
with information on the current employment
market, salary scales and other benefits
provided in the region.
Pictured at the first All-Ireland Farmers Market Conference in
Athlone in July which was funded by Accel and organised jointly
by the Rural Food Company Training Network and the Western
Organic Network are: Eilish Broderick, Rural Food Company Training
Network, Noreen Fitzpatrick, Accel, Trevor Sargent T.D. Minister of
State, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Diane
Dignam, Accel.
Marie Fox, Manager
Wicklow Skillnet,
Mick O'Dwyer
& Elaine Willis,
Greystones Chamber
at the recent
networking event
“The Trainer who
puts the skill into
“Hot Topics” a series of breakfast
Wicklow” in the
seminars run by the Positive2Work
Arklow Bay Hotel.
Skillnet are currently running on a quarterly
Ross Lewis in action
basis. The seminars are interactive
‘Innovation in the Kitchen’ a culinary demonstration by Ross
workshops aimed at HR and training
Lewis, Michelin Award Winning Chef – Proprietor of Chapter One,
professionals. Contact: Amanda Dilworth
Parnell Square, Dublin was held in Athlone IT and organised by
on 01 7016311 for further information.
the Accel Elevator project.
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Network News
Minister pays tribute
to Learning Waves Skillnet
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,
Mr. Eamon Ryan T.D., speaking at a Learning Waves Skillnet
conference in November, acknowledged the important role of
independent commercial radio in Ireland for the last 20 years.
In his address, the Minister said that “casting an eye back
over the last two decades we see a hugely successful story
of development. Independent commercial radio has proven
to be extremely popular and commercially successful. RTÉ
has been challenged to raise its game. Listeners around the
country have significantly increased choice. Broadcasting
in Ireland is inclusive, successful, established and dynamic”.
The question of where the sector will be in another 20 years
was posed and as yet the answer is unknown, but according
to the Minister the opportunities for broadcasting, in what
ever form it takes, will continue to abound.
‘Building Leaders for the Future’
– Engineers Skillnet Seminar
Engineers Ireland together with the Engineers Skillnet held
a one day seminar on Leadership for Engineers, ‘Building
Leaders for the Future’ on Wednesday October 24th at the
Carlton Airport Hotel, Swords, Dublin.
This seminar focused on how Ireland's engineering companies
can establish enhanced organisational effectiveness, build
success-driven competencies and identify leadership challenges
for the future.
Professor Stephane Garelli, Director of the International Institute
for Management Development, at World Competitiveness
in Switzerland delivered a keynote address at the seminar
focusing on how nations and enterprises can compete in
international markets. Other speakers included Dr. Beverly
Alimo-Metcalfe, Professor of Leadership studies in Leeds
University and CEO of Real-World Group, Dr. Chris Horn,
Vice President of Engineers Ireland, Bernard McNamara,
Executive Chairman of Michael McNamara & Co and Senator
Fergal Quinn, President of Superquinn.
“More than ever before, the task of creating engaging and
committed employees is vital to organisational success”,
said seminar organiser Mr. Jimmy Kinahan of Engineers
Ireland. “The result is a company that produces long-term
results with high levels of both customer and employee
satisfaction.”
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The task for Government is to ensure the continued development
of the sector and the key focus for now is the development
of digital broadcasting and the proposed Broadcasting Bill.
The draft bill places a function on the proposed sectoral
regulator – the BAI – “to co-operate with other bodies to
promote training activities in relation to areas of skill shortages
in the broadcasting sector”. This is an explicit recognition
that the sector in general, and the independent commercial
radio industry in particular, is dependent upon its people
and their knowledge for its long-term success. The Minister
acknowledged the work of the industry in the establishment
of the Learning Waves Skillnet and commended both the
industry and Skillnets for the commitment shown to the
development of the industry as a whole.
Liam Dwyer, South East Radio, Fiona Stack,
Radio Kerry, Chairperson Learning Waves Skillnet,
Minister Eamon Ryan, T.D., Bernadette Prendergast,
Galway Bay FM & Michael Crawley, LMFM.
Network News
FETAC Quality Assurance Approval
for Three Networks
Learning Waves, SLM Food & Drink Manufacturing and IASC
Skillnets achieved recent success gaining approval for their
Quality Assurance applications to continue to offer training
programmes that lead to a FETAC award.
The three networks represent the radio, food, drink and seafood
sectors in Ireland and will be the first dedicated recognised
centres for their respective industries. As approved FETAC
providers, they will be offering modules leading to FETAC
accredited certificates allowing participants to gain national
recognition for their achievements.
Pat Ryan, Managing Director of
Thurles-based Upay demonstrates
to Laura Maye, network manager
of Design Shannon Skillnet the
product which his company
developed while participating
in Design Shannon Skillnet’s
two year training programme.
‘Building your Brand’
Design Shannon Skillnet seminar
Design Shannon Skillnet, as part of Design Week 2007 hosted a
free half-day seminar entitled ‘Building your Brand’ in November.
The seminar explored how design might be more fully exploited
to bring added value to firms. The seminar was followed by
a series of one-on-one workshops with expert speakers.
“The purpose of the free seminar was twofold,” stated Laura
Maye, network manager, Design Shannon Skillnet. “Firstly, it
aimed to provide the managers/owners of small to medium
sized businesses with access to leading national branding
experts and an environment in which to focus on the place
of design within their overall business. Secondly, it served
to give a snapshot of the 2-year Design Shannon Skillnet
programme, which provides access to design expertise free
to each member firm.” Two of the country's foremost design
consultants, Martin Crotty, Managing Director, BFK Strategic
Design and Martin Gaffney, Managing Director, Designworks
gave expert advice on the subject, while Emer Conroy,
Marketing Manager of Sligo-based Lotus Automation (Irl)
provided an insight on the path her company followed to
develop a successful brand.
“We can now continue to develop and deliver specific courses
for the radio sector and accredit our own training programmes”,
said Teresa Hanratty, network manager of the Learning Waves
Skillnet. Mary Hennessy, network manager of the SLM Food &
Drink Manufacturing Skillnet stated that, “FETAC certification
gives national recognition for learning and training that has
taken place in the workplace across all sectors. SLM plan to
develop further food and drink sector specific courses”.
The IASC Skillnet represents the seafood sector and Martina
Clarke, network manager said that, “The FETAC approval allows
us to continue to build on our initial steps of life-long learning
in the seafood trade and raising standards in the industry”.
“The Human Factor…
Driving Business Success”
Human Resource professionals need to “challenge organisational
assumptions and assume a greater role in business strategy”,
delegates to the inaugural Tourism and Hospitality Human
Resources Conference 2007 were told.
More than 150 HR professionals from the Tourism and
Hospitality industry attended the conference which was
organised by the Hospitality Management Skillnet in
partnership with Fáilte Ireland. It was held as a result of
industry feedback from HR practitioners relating to their
learning needs, challenges and concerns.
Niall Crowley, Chief Executive of the Equality Authority,
spoke about how cultural diversity initiatives can positively
impact on business performance, while Tricia Murphy, from
TiG Alliance challenged the audience to develop effective
networking skills to ‘grow' themselves and their business.
Other speakers included Deirdre Fitzsimons, HR manager at
Clontarf Castle Hotel, Ercus Stewart, SC, Mark Stanton of Noel
Recruitment and Dr Paul Mooney, President of the National
College of Ireland.
Kevin Moriarty, Manager,
Continuing Professional
Development Fáilte Ireland,
Deirdre Fitzsimons, HR
Manager Clontarf Castle,
Natasha Kinsella, CEO Irish
Hospitality Institute and
Ewan Plenderleith, President
Irish Hospitality Institute.
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Calendar of Events
Skillnets network manager Professional Development Programme (PDP)
January
Introduction to networks & network finance for new network managers
Transition to 2008/9 Programme for existing network managers
Training on Skillnets Activity Management (SAM) online system
February
Training on Skillnets Activity Management (SAM) online system
March
PDP Seminars for all network managers
Further information on the above events will be forwarded to networks in the coming weeks. Information
on the Skillnets CPD Diploma in Managing Business Networks shall be provided at the January events.
editorial matters
We are delighted to bring you the first issue of ‘Skillnets News’.
The newsletter is a communications tool for Skillnets staff,
networks and projects across the country. Thank you to all
those networks and projects who contributed to this issue and
we look forward to another issue in the first quarter of 2008.
The editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right
to edit or omit submitted material. No responsibility can be
accepted for the loss of submitted material. Material from the
Skillnets newsletter, unless copyright is indicated, may only
be reproduced with written permission from the publishers.
The Skillnets Newsletter is published by:
Skillnets Ltd
Level 1, Frankfort Court,
Dundrum Road, Dublin 14
Editor: Sinéad McGovern
Tel: 01 207 9630 Fax: 01 207 9631
Email: communications@skillnets.com
Web: www.skillnets.ie
Skillnets Ltd registered in Ireland No. 298694
The Training Networks Programme
is an initiative of Skillnets Ltd and
is funded from the National Training
Fund through the Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Registered office: One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1.