Have your say on where the National Training Fund is allocated

Future Jobs Ireland – have your say The Government launched Future Jobs Ireland this month as part of an overall strategy to ensure that the workforce in Ireland is suitably equipped to meet the needs of business and enterprise and to ensure the Irish economy is well-placed to take full advantage of future technological changes. The Future Jobs Ireland programme includes a commitment to reform the National Training Fund (NTF) so that it aligns more directly with the changing skill requirements of Ireland’s labour force. Peninsula’s voice on the NTF The views of SME’s are being sought to ensure that Ireland’s SME sector directly benefits from the allocation of the NTF. As Peninsula’s Alan Hickey is a member of the NTF Advisory Group, Peninsula clients have a chance to help influence the way in which the €300 million NTF is allocated. We are seeking proposals from Peninsula clients to find out what training needs and skill gaps exist within your organisation and industry and to find out what supports or schemes would help future-proof your workforce for the challenges that lie ahead. Peninsula client feedback Your input could help deliver meaningful changes in the way the NTF is spent which could benefit both your business and the wider economy. The Government has identified the following areas it intends to target as part of the Future Jobs Ireland initiative. 1. Embracing Innovation and Technological Change 2. Improving SME Productivity 3. Enhancing Skills and Developing and Attracting Talent 4. Increasing Participation in the Labour Force 5. Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy Innovation and Technological Change It is a stated aim of Future Jobs Ireland to increase the capacity of SME’s to engage in research, development & innovation. Incentives to encourage SME’s to invest in new technologies are planned. Improving SME Productivity The Government intends to address the recent decline in SME productivity by improving leadership and management skills in SME’s and strengthening links between SME’s and multinational enterprises and our third-level education institutions. SME’s will also be encouraged to take-up Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office supports. Enhancing Skills and Developing and Attracting Talent A programme will be developed to source SME’s who have not taken part in training or upskilling to date. Finding ways to encourage more lifelong learning among staff in SME’s is an area in which Peninsula clients could give valuable feedback. Increasing Participation in the Labour Force Making it easier for people to re-enter the workforce and enabling employers to offer greater flexibility in terms of work patterns is one way to attract more workers with caring or other responsibilities into the labour force. Views from employers would also be welcomed to come up with ways to encourage the employment of older workers and people with disabilities. Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy Rural employers are encouraged to exploit the potential of the circular and bioeconomy to drive sustainable economic development as the Government envisions the country transitioning to a low carbon economy. Have your say How the NTF is allocated could, directly and indirectly, impact on your business. €300 million will be spent over the next five years as the Government seeks to bolster the SME sector. It is important that such funding is spent wisely and meets business needs. To have your voice heard by the NTF Advisory Group and to influence how the NTF is allocated, please email your proposals and suggestions to Alan Hickey at NTFAdvisoryGroup@peninsula-ie.com.