Over 2,200 people from Mayo upskilled with Skillnet Business Networks last year
In 2024, over 2,200 people and 630 businesses in Mayo participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network.
Figures from the Skillnet Ireland annual report 2024 reveal the national agency for talent development delivered over 14,800 training days in Mayo last year. Of those who undertook training, 53% were women and 47% were men, while those aged 30 to 39 availed of upskilling supports more than any other age group.
Commenting on the uptake of Skillnet Ireland supports from businesses, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, said: “As the national workforce development agency, Skillnet Ireland plays a key role in developing the talent that Irish businesses need through upskilling and reskilling. In 2024, it supported over 24,000 businesses, the vast majority of them SMEs, to address their skills needs in order to remain competitive.
"By supporting Irish businesses to upskill and reskill, Skillnet Ireland is helping to foster resilience and innovation, so that companies can adapt to and meet the challenges posed by the digital and green transitions.”
The vast majority (96%) of companies in Mayo that upskilled their employees with Skillnet Ireland in 2024 were small and medium size enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the services sector, followed by pharmaceutical, agriculture, health, retail, tourism, travel, food and drink.
Companies based in Mayo undertook upskilling programmes with more than 50 of the 70 Skillnet Business Networks based on the sector in which their company operates, or with one of the networks in their region. Those networks include Itag Skillnet, Sligo Chamber Skillnet and Galway Executive Skillnet.
Skillnet Ireland chief executive Mark Jordan said: “As a knowledge-based economy, nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness. Over 24,000 Irish businesses chose to invest in upskilling and develop their people through Skillnet Ireland in 2024. This indicates the appetite for upskilling within the corporate landscape.
"We are proud to support employers throughout Ireland to both invest in their teams and strengthen Ireland’s position as a leader in innovation and sustainable growth.”
As the national talent development agency, Skillnet Ireland is working to support businesses in Mayo, to build competitiveness through skills and to meet both the challenges and opportunities that owning and running a business brings.