‘Igniting the Spark’ for #InishowenGirls

Inishowen Skillnet is delighted to announce a new initiative that will ‘break the circuit’ and ‘flick the switch’ to a wonderful new career option for Women based in Inishowen. 

Working with LYIT, we are excited to announce the first Female Foundation Programme in Electrics.  This programme, which on completion will lead to QQI level 6 Industrial Electrical Systems training will give participants the knowledge and experience to decide if they wish to pursue an Apprenticeship with Donegal ETB/LYIT.  A full programme outline is available on our website: 

Ana McColgan, Inishowen Skillnet Manager, explains, ‘The idea for this initiative all began from a conversation I had with highly successful Inishowen Electrical Contractor, Charlie McDaid, from CMD Electrical. He expressed that, for a wide variety of reasons, including immigration and the ramifications from the last recession, there is a skills shortage of qualified Electricians here in the North West. Demand heavily outweighs supply. Construction companies are not only servicing local needs, but a large number of our labour force are also travelling weekly to construction sites and businesses around the country and further afield. 

Charlie said the challenge was to have qualified people on the ground now, so upskilling and cross-skilling is essential. We need to futureproof jobs within the local companies with staff and potential staff who want to utilise their skills and experiences benefiting everyone and welcomes the presence of Skillnet Ireland funding here in Inishowen. Charlie pointed out many will work locally; others will travel and, in time, bring back more knowledge, skills and experience, so it’s a win-win situation.  Charlie said on behalf of all the Electrical Contractors across Inishowen; he was laying down a wish list. At the top of that wish list is to widen the pool of people, who want to become electricians.  In this discussion, we identified a pool of potential candidates who, with Skills Connect Funding from Skillnet Ireland, could undertake the first Female Foundation Programme in Electrics. 

Shauna McClenaghan, Joint CEO IDP adds “this programme is timely, and we are delighted to see it come to fruition.  In the past few weeks we have heard from Minister Simon Harris, Department of Further and Higher Education, launching the Action Plan for Apprenticeships so it is important we offer access routes anyway we can.  Covid-19 has disrupted how we all work, it has opened new opportunities for reviewing our old way of doing things.  This is an example of innovative opportunity, not only meeting the needs of the local business community but offering sustainable career paths for successful applicants”.   

If you or you have a friend or family member from the greater Inishowen Area, aged between 19-35, unemployed or laid off due to Covid-19 and would like to find out more about this programme, please contact ana@inishowen.ie.   If you meet the criteria Check if you are eligible  and wish to apply for the evaluation stage of the programme, send your CV to Marie/Sylvia at the IDP Job Club jobclub@inishowen.ie

Inishowen Skillnet are delighted to collaborate on this programme with LYIT, Donegal ETB and NWRC. We must also thank Nicola Anderson and Rory McMorrow from LYIT and Martina Needham at Donegal ETB, who with Charlie and other industry members brought this programme to life.

Ana McColgan 

Inishowen Skillnet Manager