FET for Enterprise

Skills to Advance is a national initiative that provides upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees in jobs undergoing change and to those currently employed in vulnerable sectors.

Skills to Advance aims to equip employees with the skills they need to progress in their current role or to adapt to the changing job market.

Working closely with small and medium-sized enterprises, Skills to Advance helps employers identify skills needs and invest in their workforce by providing subsidised education and training to staff.

FET micro-qualifications are a new FET offering to future-proof businesses, with programmes comprising of short, stackable accredited qualifications tailored to fit employees’ work schedules and provided at little or no cost to employers. Created in partnership with industry, FET micro-qualifications are provided at local level by the Education Training Boards.

FET micro-qualifications are available now in priority skill areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital business skills, green skills, business innovation, market development, robotics and more. The programmes are accredited at Levels 4, 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

These FET micro-qualifications, delivered in a blended format, will launch throughout 2026 and will be available nationally through the 16 ETBs.

Please visit the SOLAS website for more information: Solas | Skills to Advance | Micro-Qualifications

In 2022 there are over 24,000 apprentices completing training, on over 65 different programmes that include tech, property services, biopharma, engineering, construction, logistics and finance, as well as in the traditional craft industries such as electrical and plumbing.

To employ apprentices, you need to be approved as a national apprenticeship employer. Once approved, you can advertise your apprenticeship vacancies on the official Apprenticeship Jobs page.

Register your interest for approval to become a national apprenticeship employer.

If you’re already an approved national apprenticeship employer, you can find out more about joining Apprenticeship Online to advertise your job vacancies, the Apprenticeship Employer Grant or the Gender Bursary.

Traineeships are developed and delivered by your local Education and Training Board (ETB) who work in partnership with industry representatives and employers to identify skills gaps and future skills needs in the local workforce.

Traineeships can give employers access to a pipeline of learners who are developing relevant skills and gaining on-the-job experience in relevant sectors. By tailoring courses to meet local needs, traineeships can improve employment outcomes for the trainees and increase retention and productivity for employers.

New traineeships are developed on an ongoing basis across a range of industries and sectors. As a partner employer, you can help shape future Traineeship courses by identifying skills needs and contributing to the design and content of the programme. Partner employers also provide programme placements to trainees who will gain a minimum of 30% on-the-job experience during the traineeship.

Contact the Further Education and Training Director at your local ETB if you’d like to find out more about becoming a partner employer with your local ETB or to find your nearest Regional Skills Fora.

There are five steps to developing a new traineeship, from identifying a skills need to assess the outcomes of the programme. This process can take between six to eight months.