Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2023
48. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a breakdown for the current and capital budget allocations for the Skills for Better Business Initiative of the Revised Estimates for 2023; the number of staff required to support the delivery of the initiative; the current pay scale of the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26443/23]
View answerBudget Allocation for Skills for Better Business.
|
- |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
2023 |
€62,000 |
Nil |
€62,000 |
Skills for Better Business was launched on in November 2022. It comprises an Online Tool for SME management skills assessment, complemented by a sign-posting resource providing quick contact information for management education and training.
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.
14 project partners are involved in delivering Skills for Better Business : 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 supporting the Online Tool and website as reflected in the allocation above is only part of the resource input into the project. The 14 partners involved in the project each assign their own resources to support the project including promotion of the tool and ensuring the information provided remains up to date.
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.
