A business skills training centre is being planned for Clonmel by the town's Chamber of Commerce.

The Skillnets Centre will be created for enterprises throughout South Tipperary that need to train their staff in anything from retail, office and management skills to technical training specific to a particular industry. The big attraction for local businesses will be the fact that courses provided by the centre will be heavily subsidised.

Chamber of Commerce CEO Frank O'Donoghue said the project is at the development stage. The Chamber has sent a survey to companies throughout South Tipperary requesting them to indicate their level of interest in the proposed training centre. "The essential aims of Skillnets are to improve the learning activity in every facet of the work-place through inter-firm networks," said Mr O'Donoghue.

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At the moment there are more than 100 such training networks catering for all sectors and in all parts of Ireland.

"The enhancement of skills that results from this work will make participating firms more competitive and the individuals involved more employable," he continued.

Mr O'Donoghue pointed out that the training courses offered by Skillnets centres cater for the precise requirements of the participants. "Firms are asked what training they want and the plan is to deliver what is needed."

"The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment grants from Skillnets vary between 70% and 90%". Mr O'Donoghue continued: "On top of these very generous grants, it is obviously much cheaper to bring one trainer from Dublin than bring 12 trainees to Dublin. All training will be delivered locally in South Tipperary.”

(LC/JM)