New upskilling opportunities through Laois and Offaly ETB

A range of new Further Education and Training (FET) micro-qualifications are now being offered through Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) to support the emerging skills needs of local Irish business.

Delivered by LOETB, FET micro-qualifications offer short, stackable upskilling opportunities to businesses in the local area. FET micro-qualifications are unique as they have been developed in partnership with enterprise, local ETBs and SOLAS, under their Skills to Advance initiative. They offer accredited qualifications at levels 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) to employees at little or no cost to employers.

FET micro-qualifications provide bite-sized, targeted upskilling, designed to equip employees and enterprises with the skills to address key business needs. Programmes are delivered flexibly and are scheduled to fit the operating needs of businesses. Since 2019, over 90,000 places have been availed of under the Skills to Advance initiative.

Starting in March and April 2025, LOETB will offer a range of FET micro-qualifications delivered online, including:

Sustainable Supply Chain Procurement

Circular Economy in the Workplace

Environmental Sustainability in the workplace

Jolene Hall, Training Manager at LOETB said: “LOETB is delighted to support local businesses though our FET micro-qualification offering. FET micro-qualifications are a fantastic opportunity for career development within companies, empowering business owners and employees with the skills needed to create more sustainable, competitive and profitable companies. I would encourage anyone interested in upskilling to contact us at Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board.”

Mary Lyons, Director of Enterprise, Employees & Skills at SOLAS said: “Employee upskilling is crucial for Irish companies to remain agile and adaptable in the rapidly changing world of work. FET micro-qualifications are designed to provide transformative upskilling, and the flexible, local, and affordable delivery of these targeted, short courses means relevant training has never been more accessible for employers and employees.”

Speaking on his experience of Skills to Advance upskilling, Ger Egan, Maintenance Manager, Certa Ireland, said: "The Black Belt Lean Management programme has been hugely beneficial for me and my team. As a Maintenance Manager with Certa Ireland, efficiency and reliability are key, and this programme provided the tools and strategies to significantly improve both. I gained a deeper understanding of process optimization, waste reduction, and data-driven decision-making, which have led to measurable improvements in our maintenance operations.

Andy Brophy, who delivered the course, was excellent, and his ability to apply the teachings in a practical sense made the content hugely interesting throughout, as well as being able give the platform to students to share from their own vast experience. The ability to knowledge share with likeminded professionals was facilitated excellently and hugely beneficial.

I highly recommend this programme to any professional looking to enhance operational performance and drive lasting change in their organisation."

Contact Caroline Spollen in Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board at cspollen@loetb.ie to find out more about courses on offer in your local area.

For more information on Skills to Advance and FET micro-qualifications, visit www.skillstoadvance.ie.