New Learning Forum for Training Providers

The Trainers’ Learning Skillnet, Ireland’s first training forum dedicated to the learning needs of corporate training providers, was officially launched in Dublin’s Europa Academy in late May.

’The development of the Trainers’ Learning Skillnet is imperative as it aims to develop the skills of those in the training profession in Ireland, while simultaneously providing industry with individuals who can provide training to yield sustainable and quantifiable results,’ said Emma Walsh, Manager of the Skillnet.

Specifically focused on the needs of trainers and HR professionals in large and small organisations, the Trainers’ Learning Skillnet will provide grant-aided training and development opportunities that individual enterprises may not be in a position to undertake by themselves.

’The National Centre for Partnership Performance (NCPP) has identified innovation as the key to the future development of an advanced economy like Ireland’s. There can be no innovation without well-trained and highly skilled people whose capacity to evolve through up-skilling and re-skilling can give them a competitive edge in today’s global economy.  We believe that the Trainers\\\\\\\' Learning Skillnet will offer significant training and developmental opportunities for those operating within the industry and will help ensure that their skill and qualification levels match present and future human resource requirements for economic growth and competitive advantage,’ said Sinead Heneghan, Director of IITD, co-creators along with Skillnets of the new training forum.

Visit www.trainerslearningskillnet.com for further information.


Staff Retention Receives Major Boost from T&D

The UK’s largest online furniture supplier claims to have reduced employee attrition by almost 90% in just one year, and its all down to a training and development scheme.

According to Steven Jeffers, HR manager with Furniture@Work Ltd, the proportion of staff leaving the company has dropped from 69.1% to just 8.4% in the past year alone. This success followed the simple measure of hiring two in-house trainers to teach employees customer service and sales skills. This step followed continuous complaints by staff at the lack of skills development and career progression opportunities.

’When I joined it was like a revolving door, 20 or 30 people were leaving a month. After focus groups and evaluating why colleagues were leaving, they said there was no opportunities to progress in the company,’ said Jeffers.
‘It was tricky getting management on board at first, but the results – massive savings in recruitment and fewer leavers – proves the scheme was worth it,’ he added.

He believes the positive outcomes of training has gained HR respect with the board and is seeking to make further progress by introducing staff appraisals, in order to improve in-house communication.

’It’s all about engaging our employees,’ concludes Jeffers.


Superb Opportunity to Gain East Asian Business Knowledge

The European Commission has launched a free 12-month programme that enables participants to undertake in-depth language training and gain practical business experience in either Korea or Japan.

The Executive Training Programme (ETP) 2009-2010 will accommodate 45 candidates selected by the EC. It will involve three months of intensive seminars on business culture and learning of Korean or Japanese in Paris, Milan and London (complemented by distance learning); six months of advanced language and business culture training in Tokyo or Seoul; and a three-month internship in a company based in South Korea or Japan. The successful candidates will also receive an EC scholarship of €24,000.

This exciting opportunity is open to all regardless of professional background, and will provide participants with a huge advantage in doing business with East Asian firms.

Visit www.etp.org for further information and the application form. Interested candidates are invited to contact Chambers Ireland (mary.meehan@chambers.ie) for guidance and support during the application process. Applications are accepted until Tuesday, 30 September 2008; however, interested parties would be well advised to apply as soon as possible.

And in a closely related topic, a seminar entitled Doing Business in Japan will take place on Thursday, 26th June in European Union House on Dawson Street in Dublin. Visit  www.chambers.ie/ktmlpro/files/uploads/Doing%20Business%20in%20Japan%20Seminar.pdf for more information.