The Department for the Economy (DfE) is encouraging local businesses to invest in the skills development of their workforce.
Delivered by the six Further Education Colleges, InnovateUs and Skills Focus are just two of the Department’s skills programmes on offer to support business development.
InnovateUs, fully funded by the Department, is a programme to help small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees, to develop innovative products, processes and services. Skills Focus provides 75% funding to upskill the existing workforce with accredited qualifications at Level 2 and above, in companies of fewer than 250 employees.
Director of Skills at DfE, Graeme Wilkinson said: “Skills and innovation are key to economic growth. However, the Northern Ireland Skills Barometer states that over the next decade, we will be undersupplied with appropriately skilled workers, with the largest supply gaps likely to emerge in the mid-tier skills levels.
There will also be an oversupply of low-level qualifications and only 10% of job opportunities will be available to individuals with a qualification level equivalent to National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 2 or below.
“It is imperative that we address these challenges and so by investing in skills we’re investing in the future of the Northern Ireland workforce and in the prosperity and sustainability of the local economy. Supporting companies to have a highly skilled and innovative workforce will contribute to their increased productivity, profit and sustainable growth.”
He added: “Last year over 2,500 employees gained accredited qualifications under the Skills Focus programme while over 400 innovation projects were undertaken by small businesses through InnovateUs. These programmes show how the Department is supporting businesses to upskill, innovate and compete in the current market.”
Tracy Rice, Chair of the FE Colleges’ Economic Engagement Working Group commented: “The six FE Colleges, through their dedicated business support units, provide a broad spectrum of bespoke services to local industry. The Skills Focus and InnovateUs programmes enable the colleges to reach out and support SMEs with staff upskilling and retention as well as innovation and new developments. SMEs are the lifeblood of the Northern Ireland economy and programmes such as these ensure businesses stay focused on productivity and growth.”
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