Manufacturers following the M1 to success
“The M1 Manufacturers Skillnet is helping companies to compete in today’s economy’ Those were the words from Dublin City Enterprise Board Chief Executive Greg Swift at the launch of the 2009 M1 Skillnet training calendar.
He stated ‘this year will be a tough one for Irish industry but if companies focus on the key issues of achieving competitiveness through training they will outperform their competitors and beat the downturn. With over 450 training days delivered in 2008 to companies such as Heinz, Diamond Innovations, Abco Kovex and EvaTec the M1 Skillnet is there to help industry.’
The M1 Manufacturers Skillnet is focused on assisting SMEs in developing competitive advantage through excellence and focussed innovation through the provision of focussed training and networking opportunities to member companies and their employees.
The M1 Manufacturers’ Skillnet is also a dynamic network of industry leaders - collaborations delivering higher value, innovative solutions and better returns than people or businesses working individually can achieve.
Greg stated ‘The global economy is putting huge pressures on companies and the M1 Skillnet is currently assisting these companies to be more creative and innovative. With training programmes in 2009 such as Leadership Skills, ISO accreditation, Operational Excellence, Sales & Marketing, ECDL and training from €40 a day the M1 is the route to follow!’
Company approvals for the M1 Skillnet included Aidan Scully Operations Manager from AbocKovex. He stated ‘The M1 manufacturers Skillnet has provided us with the opportunity to enhance the expertise of our employees and ensure that we remain competitive in today’s market.’
For details of the M1 Manufacturers Skillnet log onto www.M1Skillnet.ie
Paul McCormack, Network Manager
M1 Manufacturers Skillnet
Fingal County Enterprise Board,
Mainscourt Tel: 01 890 0800
23 Main Street Fax: 01 813 9991
Swords, County Dublin Email: paul.mccormack@M1skillnet.ie
As an Industry driven network ‘M1’ works with companies in the vital task of developing competitive advantage through excellence and focussed innovation in the small and medium-sized manufacturing sector along the ‘M1Corridor’ in the Louth and Fingal regions, through the provision of focussed training and networking opportunities to member companies and their employees.
About M1 Manufacturers Skillnet
Louth – Fingal – Meath – Dublin City Enterprise Boards
The M1 Manufacturers Skillnet is designed to assist in the vital task of developing competitive advantage through excellence and focused innovation in the small- and medium-sized manufacturing sector along the ‘M1Corridor’ in the Louth and Fingal regions, through the provision of focused training and networking opportunities to member companies and their employees.
The Network is a joint initiative of Fingal, Dublin City, Meath and Louth County Enterprise Boards, all of who are increasingly aware of the need for manufacturing enterprises in the region to adopt a more strategic approach to learning and development. In recent years manufacturers have come under increasing competitive pressure due to rising costs in the domestic market. At the same time the expansion of the EU has opened the market to competitors operating from lower cost economies in Eastern Europe. There has also been a move towards outsourcing components from emerging low-cost Asian economies.
These factors compel Irish manufacturers to seek competitive advantage through specialisation, excellence and economies of scale rather than through a price-based strategy. The M1 Network provides the means to counter those challenges through excellence and innovation.
About Skillnets
Skillnets is an enterprise-led body that was set up in April 1999 to provide companies with new opportunities to develop relevant, effective answers to their training and development needs.
The Skillnets Board includes representatives of the employer bodies IBEC, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, Construction Industry Federation, Small Firms Association as well as representatives of employee bodies through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and also representatives of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Skillnets is responsible for the operation of The Training Networks Programme (TNP). The Skillnets approach has stimulated a new leadership of enterprise training by key industry bodies, leading companies, trade unions and HR managers. Through their member networks, 32 industry federations, chambers of commerce and trade unions have promoted, championed and led training awareness and activities. In each network champions of workplace training have joined steering groups and supported and encouraged other enterprises to participate in the process.
This leadership by industry has been one of the most important and effective key success factors of the Training Networks Programme and has been key to the uptake of training within the 10,000 companies involved. To date over 50,000 employees have benefited from Skillnets training.
The Skillnets approach is cross regional, and cross-functional. It is firmly grounded in the strength and synergies of networking. Networks are self-selecting and guided by a commonality of need. Decision-making is devolved to the level of the industry group or other network grouping so as to maximize enterprise involvement in all aspects of delivery.
Funding for training is based on co-investment by enterprises and Skillnets. A high level of dialogue, linkages and partnerships between and across organisations has taken place with Skillnets as a facilitator and enabler of the processes.
For further information please visit: www.skillnets.ie