Donegal ETB are now enrolling for September 2018 courses and one area that is generating a lot of interest is Digital Skills and Marketing.
Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service run a range of courses in this field, where learners develop in-demand skills for business and promotions, including digital imaging, sales, web creation and digital skills for tourism. There are two full-time courses available in Letterkenny and Donegal Town and part-time and evening courses available in many of Donegal’s main towns across the county.
Emma Murray (25) from Letterkenny completed the full-time Career Traineeship in Digital Sales and Marketing this year. Best-known as the blogger behind The Fashion Chair, Emma attributes many of her new digital skills to the course.
During the one year course, Emma got the opportunity to work directly in the sector on work placements, as well as studying for the City & Guilds Qualification and the Preparing for Business Enterprise Cert.
Emma Murray
Why Donegal ETB? Emma said she already knew the quality of the teaching and programmes at the learning centres, having completed a Training and Development course with them in 2016.
She had been working as a Personal Shopper and Store Trainer in Galway before moving home to further her education in 2017.
Emma tells Donegal Daily: “I was at a crossroads when I decided to come home. I always had an interest in social media and market, but the course surpassed all my expectations.
“We learned so much and covered so many modules including image editing, website design and creation, Microsoft Excel, video making, SEO and blogging. There was something for everyone.
“It was an intense course but it was so well laid out that we were never under pressure. We had plenty of time to complete assignments and prepare for exams,” she said.
The course provides three work experience opportunities, which Emma completed with McElhinneys of Ballybofey, and dividing the second placement period between both Solis Lough Eske Castle and Stevens Jewellers Letterkenny.
“I liked the combination of studying and work because we could put everything into practice. Working directly in businesses’ marketing departments means we can bring what we’ve learned back into class discussions.”
There was a mix of team work and individual assignments which were practical and based on real businesses, which Emma enjoyed. As part of their course work, the class worked together to create a promotional video of the course, enabling them to showcase their skills to a wider audience through Donegal ETB’s social media platforms.
“We got on so well as a class and with the tutors. There were 4-5 tutors for different modules throughout the year. They were fantastic, they were always approachable and you could always send them an email or talk to them in class if you had a question,” Emma said.
The programme is very focused on developing skills for employment, where learners can focus on working for existing companies or setting up their own businesses.
Emma Murray
Emma is set to launch her own social media management company this summer, using the skills she gained from the Preparing for Business Enterprise Cert within her Traineeship to put the plan into action. This module teaches learners about taxation, Revenue, support for start-ups and more.
“I wouldn’t be setting up a business if it wasn’t for the course,” Emma said.
Emma now manages the Letterkenny Shopping Centre Instagram account and is looking forward to taking advantage of the prosperous local digital industry.
“I think there is a shortage of people doing digital marketing in Donegal. As long as there are social media and the internet there will be jobs,” Emma said.
Emma Murray
Visit www.donegaletb.ie to find more information about Digital Skills/Marketing/Sales/Imaging programmes with Donegal ETB starting in September 2018 throughout Donegal or email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie with course inquiries.
Many of Donegal ETB’s FET courses are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
