This document discusses the Shannon Chamber Skillnet, a training network established in 2015 in Ireland's Mid-West region. It aims to provide high-quality, subsidized training to businesses and employees to develop job-ready skills and support economic growth in the region. Courses cover topics such as leadership, management, digital skills, and industry-specific training. Feedback from participants indicates the training helps employees gain new skills and improves business operations. The Skillnet works closely with local businesses and economic groups to ensure its training offerings match current industry needs in the region.

1. Cost
efficient
Relevant
Convenient
High
quality
Training
that is
Evidentially
Making a
Difference

2. Why
Train?
Why
Skillnets?
Why Shannon
Chamber Skillnet?
The Government’s
ambition for the Mid-
West is to increase
employment in the
region by 10-15% by
2020. Having a ‘jobs-
ready workforce’ to meet
this ambitious target
will involve continuous
up-skilling of those
in employment, and
equipping those actively
looking for work with
a set of skills that adds
to their employability
by existing and new
employers.
Established in 1999,
Skillnets supports and
works with businesses
in Ireland and their
employees to address
their current and future
skills needs… it provides
high-quality training
through 63 learning
networks in a range of
regions and sectors.
Shannon Chamber applied
for and successfully
received funding to
set up a new Skillnet
in September 2015 in
response to a demand for
new areas of training and
for training that would
be member-driven. The
Network is funded by
member companies and
the Training Networks
Programme, an initiative
of Skillnets, funded from
the National Training Fund
through the Department
of Education.

3. “…uniquely effective in attracting new staff.”
“…growing our staff helps us to retain staff…we also save on recruitment costs.”
“…it gives us a back-up plan and assists us with career succession planning.”
“…makes our staff more valuable; they are becoming multi-skilled and upskilling all
the time.”
“… it’s really helping our operational efficiency.”
“…by offering training that our competitors are not, we are setting ourselves apart.”
The Benefits of Training:
What our member companies say…

4. Steering Group
Shannon Chamber Skillnet is led by a steering group which comprises:
Edmund Jennings, MD, The Cregg Group (Chair); Helen Downes, CEO,
Shannon Chamber; Liam Kirby, Operations Training Co-Ordinator, AXA
Partners; Marie Clifford, MD, Advanced Technical Concepts; Vicky Howard,
HR Manager, Reagecon; Aidan McMahon, MD, Gentian Services Ltd; Vivian
Farrell, Chief Commercial Officer, Modular Automation; David Brown,
Finance Manager, Idex Pump Technologies; Elaine Hartigan, HR Manager,
PTG Hi-Life Tools; and Cillian Griffey, Network Manager.
TRAINING
OUTPUTS
Since its establishment, Shannon
Chamber Skillnet has initiated
and delivered a comprehensive
set of training options, which are
constantly being added to.
Launch October 2015
Shannon Chamber Skillnet was officially launched
on 9 October 2015 by the then Minister for
Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, Speaking
at the launch the Minister said: “The new Shannon
Chamber Skillnet, through delivering training
at many levels and, through catering for the
needs of a mix of sectors, will greatly enhance
the operational capacity of its membership. It is
perfectly framed to build the capacity of the local
workforce and promote sustainable job creation.”
The former Minister for Education and Skills, Jan
O’Sullivan TD, with Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon
Chamber and Cillian Griffey, Shannon Chamber Skillnet
Network Manager at the launch.
J URNEYThis Far…
Our
Lunch & Learn Series
A newly introduced free-of-charge
‘Lunch & Learn’ series is the ideal
platform for trialling new training
options. Topics to date have
included change management,
emotional intelligence and
effective sales techniques.

5. Bespoke in-company training
Training can be delivered over 1-day, multi-days
or as an in-company bespoke programme.
Training and Development Seminars
A training and development seminar was organised by Shannon
Chamber Skillnet in association with Pepper Asset Servicing
and Reagecon Diagnostics, supported by Career Decisions, IBT
Training, Atlantic Aviation Group and Entry Point North. The
seminar was held at Entry Point North at the Irish Aviation
Authority’s facility in Shannon.
Collaborative Regional Events
The nine Skillnet training networks operating
throughout the Mid-West region showcased
the many subsidised training options available
to SMEs, through Skillnets, at an ‘Up-Skilling
the Mid-West’ seminar, launched by Pat
Breen TD, Minister for Employment and Small
Business.
Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat
Breen TD, pictured with (from left): Cillian Griffey,
Shannon Chamber Skillnet Network Manager; Paul
Healy, CEO Skillnet; and Helen Downes, CEO Shannon
Chamber at the seminar.
Networking Events
Joint initiatives have been undertaken with local and national
organisations including Toastmasters International.

6. Feedback
from course
participants
Business Finance
for Managers
“Moving into new role:
will be very useful.”
“Can review business
plan based on new
knowledge.”
Excel
Intermediate
“Learning shortcuts
and how to
appropriately
use formulas and
functions was most
useful.”
Project Management
Professional
“We can better schedule
work; and use a work
breakdown structure
(WBS) chart to streamline
projects and better
predict timelines.”
Matching
Industry Needs
Shannon Chamber is acutely aware of the need to
position the Mid-West region as the best location
in Ireland for responding to the skills deficits of
enterprise and for retraining and upskilling the pool
of talent currently employed by member companies.
All training delivered to date has been offered
in response to a ‘Training Needs Analysis’ (TNA)
survey, issued annually to all member companies.
This ensures that the courses we offer directly
reflect the specific needs of companies while also
equipping employees with the types of new and
enhanced skills they may need to augment within
their organisations.
Shannon Chamber Skillnet listens to what our
economic development agencies say about
skills enhancement and acquisition. With many
industries, particularly non-manufacturing
companies, now looking for more hybrid skills, we
are conscious that we need to continually provide a
comprehensive range of interconnecting disciplines.
A Comprehensive
Range of Disciplines

7. 3 Leadership Development NFQ
Level 8 (Flagship Programme 2016)
3 Management Development NFQ Level
6 (Flagship Programme 2017)
3 Time Management
3 Present and Express with Confidence
3 Employment Law
3 Social Media
3 Conflict Management
3 Influencing and Negotiating Skills
3 Personal Productivity
3 Project Management
3 Team Leader Development
3 Business Finance
3 Presentation Skills and Public
Speaking
3 Emotional Intelligence
3 Computer Skills – Excel, Word,
PowerPoint, Personal Productivity
using Microsoft Outlook
Present and Express
with Confidence
“Can now prepare
for presentations
using the guidelines
and methods
outlined today.”
Fundamentals of
Employment Law
“Can now review
policies within
company and be very
particular of process
for disciplinary/
grievance.”
Team Leader
Training
“It will help
us improve
individual
goal setting,
mentoring and
feedback.”
“Training
makes
staff more
valuable.”
Microsoft PowerPoint
– Beyond the Basics
“Has improved
appearance of
presentations and we
now use animations
and audio in our
PowerPoint.”
Courses Offered to date

8. The Shannon Chamber Skillnet is funded by member companies and the
Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets funded from the
National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.
Contact Cillian at:
T: 061 360611
M: 086 1304148
E: cgriffey@shannonchamber.ie
www.shannonchamber.ie/skillnet
@SNNChamber
Shannon Chamber
Shannon Chamber of Commerce
5 Reasons to Upskill with Shannon Chamber Skillnet
Our training programmes are enterprise-led.
We use a rigorous procurement process to select our trainers.
We can offer bespoke in-company training.
Your training is subsidised.
Booking is online and simple to use.
3 Certificate in Management Development
3 Microsoft Excel Intermediate
3 Microsoft Excel Advanced
3 Export Procedures and Documentation
3 Mentoring
3 Customer Care
3 Time Management
3 Effective Sales Techniques for Business
3 Practical Productivity using MS Outlook
3 Performance Management
3 Building High-Performance Teams
3 Leadership Development
3 Present and Express with Confidence
3 Conflict Management
3 Influencing and Negotiating Skills
3 Digital Marketing
Upcoming courses
Shannon Chamber Skillnet is the
ideal mechanism for taking you and
your business to the next level…
as evidenced by the achievement
of eight senior executives from
four Shannon companies who
were conferred with Diplomas in
High Performance Leadership by
the Dublin Institute of Technology
(DIT) at a special graduation
ceremony held in Dromoland Castle
Hotel, organised by Shannon
Chamber Skillnet.
From left: Paul Gavin, Zagg
International; Brian O’Sullivan,
Atlantic Aviation Group; Ted Hurley
and Jim Phelan, Ohshima; Joe
Martin, Atlantic Aviation Group; and
David Kelly, Zagg International at
their conferring.
Our goal is to help
you attain your goals.
Employed
Managers
Training & Developm
ent