Donegal ETB launched its new employer training services online portal www.donegaletb.ie/employers on Friday 24 November, outlining the range of training opportunities it can provide employers across Co Donegal.
This has been developed in line with government policy around engaging with local enterprise and other relevant stakeholders in order to formulate, co-ordinate and implement a coherent response by Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service to the county’s training needs.
The online portal was formally launched by guest speaker Mr Paul Diver, Owner/Manager of the Sandhouse Hotel and Marine Spa, Rossnowlagh and Chairperson of the Donegal Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation. The Sandhouse Hotel has been engaging with Donegal ETB around training for the hospitality sector over the last year and supporting Donegal ETB’s hospitality and catering learners to better understand how the sector works.
The launch was part of a wider information session for employers, held in its Letterkenny Training Centre. The event provided employers with an opportunity to become more familiar with the services Donegal ETB provides to help meet the training needs of employers and enterprises, while also providing an opportunity to view the training facilities available in one of its training locations and to network with other employers, relevant stakeholders and training staff.
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Speaking at the launch, Donegal ETB Chief Executive Anne McHugh said, “We are delighted that so many employers and employer support services could join us here today at the launch. We are open for business and we look forward to working closely with you over the coming years to meet your training needs.”
Those in attendance included employers from across a range of disciplines including accountancy and financial services, construction, engineering, electrical, hospitality, marketing and media industries. In addition, business representatives and support services were also in attendance including Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Employment Engagement), Donegal Local Development Company, Inishowen Development Partnership, the Donegal Local Enterprise Office (LEO), Údarás na Gaeltachta, the IDA, the LYIT and SOLAS.
Donegal ETB’s Director of Further Education and Training (FET) Services, Cróna Gallagher, stated “Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) is the largest FET provider in the county with almost 12,000 learners completing education and training courses with us in 2016.
“The goal of everyone in this room is to improve the lot of the people of Co Donegal. By working with you, the employers of the county, we hope to work in partnership towards meeting both your training needs and improving the employment prospects of people in the county.”
Manager of the North West Regional Skills Forum, Oran Doherty, who works with Donegal ETB and employers to meet the emerging skills needs, stated, “Donegal ETB is probably the first ETB in the country to develop an employer portal like this.”
Lorraine Murray, Senior Training Advisor, Donegal ETB, noted during the event that “the Employer Information Session and the new portal is part of the ongoing relationship building activities being undertaken by Donegal ETB with employers across the county to ensure that all are aware of the services and engagement opportunities available.”
This was also Donegal ETB’s final event of the week in its programme of events for European Vocational Skills Week and College Awareness Week which took place from 20-26 November.
Further information on Donegal ETB can be found on its website www.donegaletb.ie or its social media accounts Facebook/Twitter (@DonegalETB), YouTube (Donegal ETB) or LinkedIn
(http://www.linkedin.com/
