Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
187. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital, current and total 2023 budget allocation for the skills for better business scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5387/23]
View answerBudget Allocation for Skills for Better Business (Online Tool)
|
|
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
2023 |
€62,000 |
Nil |
€62,000 |
Skills for Better Business was launched on 30th November 2022. It is a two-part initiative aimed at assisting SME owners and managers across Ireland. It comprises an Online Tool for management skills assessment, complemented by a sign-posting resource providing contact information for management education and training providers across the country.
The upskilling of SMEs is a high priority for my Department. In particular, research has shown that the firms that invest in management development have higher productivity, better survival rates and innovate more. In October 2020, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published Leading the Way, a report on SME Management Skills and Practices. The report points to the need for management development to become a real strategic priority for SMEs if they are to grow and prosper.
The Online Tool is designed to make it easy for time-poor SME owners and managers to carry out an initial assessment of their own management skills. Once they complete the questionnaire, they receive a short report detailing where they may need to focus. They are then directed to the Skills for Better Business: Courses and Contacts pages on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s website to find a training or education provider to support them in the next steps of their journey. The focus is to provide an easy-to-understand summary of what is provided and to direct the reader to a contact person who can support and assist them in identifying the training and education they need.
The 14 project partners involved in delivering Skills for Better Business are: the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Skillnet Ireland; Enterprise Ireland; SOLAS; the Small Firms Association (SFA); ISME; the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs); the Regional Skills Fora; the Higher Education Authority (HEA); the Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA); Chambers Ireland; Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI); the Irish Universities Association (IUA); and the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA).
The direct cost of the Online Tool, at €60,300, is only a small part of the resource input into the project. Different sub-groups of the 14 partners worked on the Online Tool, the Courses & Contacts pages, and the Comms Strategy for the project. The contribution in time and expertise from all involved was very substantial throughout. These organisations have therefore absorbed much of the cost of the project through their collaboration in its delivery. The project is set to continue in a similar manner in 2023, the focus being to maintain and promote the website on which the online tool is located.
Skills for Better Business is currently being promoted by the project partners, led by my Department. It is important that the message gets out to SME owners and managers across Ireland that Skills for Better Business is now launched and its resources are available. We want SMEs to make use of the Online Tool and engage with management education and training providers to identify the courses they need to improve their management skills and practices.
