An additional boost has been given to anyone looking to progress their career, gain new skills, start a new career path or re-enter the workforce through €292,876 in new funding secured by IT Tralee for its Springboard+ offering.

The courses, which will run from January 2019 at IT Tralee, are in the areas of Mechatronics, Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Revit, Quality Management, Biopharmaceutical Processing, Hotel Management, Food and Beverage Operations and Restaurant Operations. 

Commenting on the announcement, Brid McElligott, Vice President for Development, Research and External Engagement at IT Tralee, said:

“This latest funding brings to over 2,000 the number of Springboard+ students enrolled at IT Tralee since the introduction of the Labour Market Activation programme. The success in linking course participants with employers throughout the region, has resulted in many Springboard+ graduates now pursuing rewarding careers. This is due in no small part to the commitment of employers to embed a culture of lifelong learning in workplace development, demonstrating the value they place on their employees.”

This funding is in addition to €1.2 million secured in June 2018 for 346 Springboard+ places at IT Tralee, which included courses in Science & Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Validation, Industrial Instrumentation and Automation, Quality Management, Culinary Skills, and Applied Computing.

West Cork-based Michael Harrington, who completed a Certificate in Industrial Instrumentation & Automation in 2017/2018 through the Springboard+ at IT Tralee shared his positive experience of the programme. ‘I have been able to achieve a qualification that 18 months ago I didn't think would be possible for me. The primarily online format by which the course is taught makes it very accessible and has led in my case to securing a new job and with better career prospects.’

Springboard+ courses are designed and developed in close collaboration with industry partners, to provide a dynamic pipeline of job-ready graduates, with up-to-the-minute skills, and valuable qualifications.

Commenting on the need to grow diverse skills in the South West Region, Dr Siobhan Bradley, Manager of the South West Regional Skills Forum, added, ‘We welcome this additional funding announcement for the South West Region. As the Irish economy continues to grow and thrive, and unemployment drops to below 5.5%, an increasing number of sectors and occupations have growing skills needs that programmes such as Springboard can target and address. Retaining employees through upskilling, and creating a vigorous talent base in the Region, enhances productivity and innovation, and underpins our national competitiveness.’

Places on new programmes are expected to fill fast and anyone interested in applying is encouraged to contact the Lifelong Learning Department at IT Tralee. Priority will be given to qualifying early applicants. Further information on the courses available, eligibility criteria and the application process are available by contacting the Institute at 066 7191701 or by visiting www.springboardcourses.ie