Dublin region accounts for just over 30% of the total employment in Ireland but Skills and Talent for businesses remains their biggest challenge now and for the future.
The Dublin Regional Skills Forum (DRSF) is part of a national network supported by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) focused on fostering stronger links between enterprise and education/training providers.
The creation of the DRSF reflects the strong focus on the skills agenda as part of Government policies such as the National Skills Strategy, Action Plan for Education and Regional Enterprise Plans, which focus on enhancing regional economic growth and increasing job opportunities.
The objective of DRSF is to provide the supply of skills needed to meet both expansion and replacement demand for industry and to close any gaps in relation to skill shortages identified through direct engagement with SME’s.
This regional skill structures are contributing to better outcomes for learners, and support enterprise development and job creation by providing:
- More robust labour market information and analysis of employer needs;
- Better alignment of education and training provision with the skills needs of each region;
- Greater collaboration and utilisation of resources across the education and training system and enhancement of progression routes for learners;
- Maximisation of employment, career progression and entrepreneurship opportunities available to learners in each region.
Over the last three years the forum continues to engage with a number of core sectors, (Tourism & Hospitality/ Retail / Construction/ Biopharma/ ICT/ Financial/ Logistics & Transport) in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, direct SME businesses and representative bodies.
This has resulted in key outputs that focus on inputs for funded programme provision delivered, identifying actual skills gaps, connections with educational providers in meeting skills needs and communications to inform and support SMEs to navigate around the educational system for business development and growth.
Some key funded provisions noted: Springboard, Explore, sector specific traineeships and apprenticeships, Skills to Advance and Skills for Growth all supporting SMEs within the region.
In 2019 DRSF will again host an SME Engagement event, this year as part of Start-up Week Dublin (supported by Dublin City Council) so if you’re an SME, entrepreneur or starting your own business we would encourage you to come along and hear our business case examples illustrate how you can benefit from such engagement with DRSF.
Link here to register for this free event www.eventbrite.ie/e/sme-engagement-for-skills-growth-in-collaboration-with-dublin-city-council-tickets-72435212671
A Collaboration of Partners (Industry Chair Siobhan O’Shea – Director CPL) managed by Natasha Kinsella RSFM within this Dublin Regional Skills
The forum includes:
EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS
City of Dublin Education and Training Board, Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, Dublin City University, National College of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, TU Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology, National College of Art and Design and Skillnet Ireland.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER INDUSTRY BODIES INCLUDING
DSP, IDA-Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, National Disability Authority, IBEC, Local County Councils, Local Enterprise Offices, ISME and Dublin Chambers of Commerce.
Dublin Regional Skills Manager
