17 women from companies across Cork received certificates on Friday last following their successful completion of a conjoined programme from Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) and the Cork Electronics Industry Association (CEIA) with the objective of developing future leaders within the technology sector.

The programme, delivered through Cork College of FET’s Bishopstown Campus, is exclusive to women and is part of the Skills to Advance ‘Leading Through Change’ initiative, which launched in September 2021. 

It is funded by SOLAS, a funded Government initiative which provides subsidised training to those in employment.

The course aims to develop the management capability of women in the workforce and was open to all CEIA member companies. Delivery was collaborative, leveraging off the skills and talent of current women leaders across the network to support potential future leaders.

The programme provided the learners from member companies with access to the knowledge and skills of leaders from larger organisations who worked closely with CETB on the programme content, the modules delivered were selected by the network as being of direct relevance to their businesses.

Cork ETB awarded the ILM Certificate in Leadership and Management to the programme participants after successful completion of the course, which took place one morning a week across 16 weeks.

Representatives from the following companies participated in the course: Boston Scientific, Wystek, Horner, Logitech, Apple, Intel and Moog. 

Valerie Cowman, Manager, Bishopstown Campus, and Chair of the CEIA Education and Skills group said the programme was a great way to build the leadership skills of women in companies within the network and enable them to support and learn from each other.

She added:

I would like to congratulate all the learners who received their awards today. The collaborative effort to identify and select relevant modules for network member companies plus the support from women leaders in the programme delivery really demonstrates the advantage of network delivery. It allowed the programme participants to engage with both leaders and learners from organisations they would not normally encounter and has hopefully set them on the path to future career success.

Course participant Lauren O’Dell is part of this first group of women completed the programme and said the following:

The ILM Leadership and Management Programme covers a range of key practices that I feel will aid & support my development in a Leadership & Managerial position.

Course Modules such as Understanding How to Manage Remote Workers and Managing and Implementing Change in the workplace are two examples that are extremely prevalent in a Virtual Environment during a Global Pandemic. I want to work and collaborate with the other participants to build working relationships and share new knowledge gained from the programme. I am looking forward to meeting and gaining expertise and inspiration from strong Female Leaders from multiple CEIA member companies.

This programme is a fantastic opportunity for myself and the other participants to become on-site advocates for our companies.

A second programme is currently running to further develop potential leaders across the network.

Skills to Advance funding allows companies to develop their staff to meet both the current and future challenges of their business.

Programmes can be bespoke to suit the needs of a company, particularly small to medium enterprises and we are always engaging with business to see what programmes they require.

Business that are interested and have queries in relation to specialised programming and courses are advised to contact Cork College of FET’s  Bishopstown Campus at the following email address: [email protected]

Notes: 

About the Skills to Advance Initiative:

Skills to Advance is a SOLAS funded Government initiative which provides subsidised training to those in employment .It aims to equip employees with the skills they need to progress in their current role or to adapt to the changing job market.

The initiative offers free up-skilling and re-skilling opportunities for businesses, employees or unemployed persons looking to advance in their working lives.

Skills to Advance provides subsidised training which aims to equip employees with the skills they need to progress in their current role or to adapt to the changing job market.

Cork ETB is a long-standing Board member of CEIA – an industry lead, non-profit association which has represented high tech companies in the Cork region since 1984.

Who is the CEIA and what do they do?

The CEIA works in collaboration with both regional and national agencies such as Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Enterprise Ireland, Cork Education and Training Board, Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork to ensure a sophisticated technological infrastructure is in place to enable the industry to grow and prosper.

The organisation was founded in 1984 by a number of CEO’s, primarily focused on lobbying improvement of the infrastructure of the region and to nurture industrial growth. It has achieved major success since inception and can be considered the most significant association representing the manufacturing, supply chain and technology sector in the Southern region of Ireland. The CEIA currently comprises >50 members, including the five statutory members – MTU, EI, CETB, IDA and UCC;

Cork Education and Training Board, as a CEIA board member, approached the board  regarding a Network Collaboration in terms of running a programme to develop future leaders – and this programme is the result of collaboration between both.  

About the CEIA/ Skills to Advance programme: 

• The programme delivered to CEIA member companies is a Skills to Advance programme that was developed with input from IDA, Enterprise Ireland and SOLAS particular as a regional skills development initiative. 
• The initial programme was female-focussed and open to all member companies. It is a collaborative delivery, leveraging off current network skills and talent to support potential future leaders.
• The programme is designed to give learners access to the knowledge and skills of leaders from organisations across the network on their experiences in their own careers  in terms of the topics covered. It gave the participants the opportunity to learn from Senior managers across different technology companies including electronics, ICT and medtech that they would not normally be exposed to.  
• The modules delivered have been selected by the network as being of particular relevance to their businesses. From the learners perspective it provides the opportunity to develop both leadership skills and also to build their own external network at an early stage in their career.

If you or your business has a need and Cork College of FET Bishopstown Campus can help contact [email protected]

About Cork Education and Training Board  

Cork Education and Training Board (hereinafter referred to as Cork ETB) was established under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013 and is responsible and accountable for the proper direction and control of its functions in the Cork City and Cork County Councils’ local authority areas. Cork ETB plans, provides, supports and co-ordinates education, training and youth services in Cork which are recognised internationally as a model of excellence.  

Cork ETB is a driving force of education and training in Cork, providing high quality services which are innovative, responsive and inclusive. Through Cork ETB there is a pathway for every learner.  

Cork ETB’s target clients are learners in our schools, colleges, training centres and community settings, applicants under the various learner support schemes administered directly by Cork ETB, Youth Service Providers, Community Education and Training Groups, Voluntary Community Organisations and Communities throughout the City and County.  

Cork ETB is the patron and management body for two Community National Schools and 28 recognised Post Primary schools, including four PLC Colleges.  

Twelve of the post primary schools are designated Community colleges where there is an agreement with the local Catholic bishop on diocesan involvement in the governance of the college. Cork ETB provides a range of services to all our schools and colleges including financial, human resource, building, ICT, governance support as well as educational planning support.  Cork ETB is also a co-trustee/co-patron of 13 Community and Comprehensive Schools  

Cork ETB provides several educational settings of a post primary nature in collaboration with the HSE, to support students who are not able to participate in mainstream provision. These settings are in the form of special care, high support and residential care units, including Ard Álainn at St. Stephens Hospital, Glanmire and Éist Linn at Bessboro Blackrock.  

Further Education and Training (FET) is the provision of education and training services to a wide range of beneficiaries. The services provided range from full-time courses of varying duration to shorter part-time course options designed to meet a specific learner need, linked either to skills acquisition for employment, or the possibility of progression to further studies.  

Cork ETB provides a range of Further Education and Training services, both full-time and part-time, in a variety of centres and settings across the region.  

Full-time provision includes:  

• Post Leaving Certificate courses  
• Apprenticeships  
• Traineeships  
• Specific Skills Training  
• Youthreach  
• Community Training Centres  
• Local Training Initiatives  
• Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme  

Cork ETB has four stand-alone Colleges of Further Education (PLC Colleges):  

• Cork College of Commerce  
• St. John’s College  
• CSN College of Further Education  
• Mallow College of Further Education  

Part-time FET programmes are delivered in a variety of settings and locations under a number of funding headings with specific target learner audiences:  

• Back to Education Initiative  
• Adult Literacy  
• Adult and Community Education  
• Skills Training  
• Night/Evening courses  
• Skills for Work  

Youth Services: Under the 2013 Education and Training Board Act, Cork ETB is assigned the following function in respect of Youth – “to Support the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area”.  

Cork ETB’s primary source of funding to support youth work is received from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, in respect of targeted out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. These schemes are Special Projects for Youth (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) and Youth Information (YIC).  

Cork ETB supports the provision, development, and assessment of youth work services in Cork through the provision of appropriate targeted resources and continues to develop the role of Cork ETB as the agent for Youth Services operating in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Youth and Child Affairs.  

For more information on Cork ETB’s FET offering, visit https://www.corketb.ie/fet. For updates, visit Cork Education and Training Board or Cork ETB on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

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