New training centre opened in Tullamore
Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh officially opened Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board’s (LOETB) new facility, the Midlands Skills Centre at Axis Business Park, Tullamore on Friday last.
In a statement issued this week, LOETB said that the training courses provided at the new centre have been devised “to meet the specific needs of local employers and employees to upskill the region’s current workforce through provision of flexible, accredited – and often bespoke - training solutions that enhance the competencies of, and career options for, employees and augments the productivity and competitiveness of the region’s enterprises”.
The facilities at the centre include a clean room, where a range of training programmes will be held, while the centre is also currently home to 28 apprentice electricians. It also offers upskilling and reskilling opportunities for employees that combines practical experiential learning at the centre enhanced by online and on-site access to knowledge-based learning.
Speaking at the opening Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB, spoke of the centre as a vital component of in the implementation of the organisation’s mission statement of excellence through education and training.
“LOETB, through integrated Further Education and Training provision in, and across, both counties is impacting positively on the lives of individuals and communities as well as contributing to local enterprise and responding to regional skills gaps,” commented Mr Cunningham.
Minister McHugh, speaking after a tour of the facility, highlighted the creativity and innovation as well as integration that he had encountered in the workshops and classrooms. He quoted a learner, Paddy – a participant on a unique carers traineeship – “You can never learn too much” as an illustration of the attitude and commitment already evident at the centre. He reserved his highest praise for the passion displayed by tutors and instructors throughout the morning .
“It is obvious that LOETB is on the right track and already there are really good things happening here at the Midlands Skills Centre.”
The official opening of the centre has been welcomed by Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.
“The development by LOETB is a progressive and ambitious initiative and it follows the model of the highly regarded National Construction Training Centre at Mountlucas.
“Given the government’s stated aims in its Climate Action Plan for retrofitting homes and businesses in the context of our decarbonisation transition, this development will provide accredited courses to people who want to equip themselves for employment in these areas. Our economy is constantly changing and it is incumbent on the workforce to keep apace with the changes in all sectors of the society.
The establishment of the Midlands Skills Centre will provide accessible, tailored and accredited courses for training and upskilling in our own town and region, she ended.