SOLAS upskilling initiative reaches 100,000 milestone offering vital skills to Irish workforce

SOLAS/01.10.2025

SOLAS has reached the important milestone of providing over 100,000 vital skills development opportunities to employees across Ireland. The upskilling and reskilling programmes have taken place through the national Skills to Advance initiative and have supported businesses and employees to adapt and respond to the constantly changing work environment.

Since its inception in 2019, the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around Ireland have been central to the roll out of Skills to Advance programmes in a range of areas including leadership and management, hospitality, digital and green skills. 

The initiative has successfully supported hundreds of businesses to develop their workforce by providing flexible, highly subsidised and accredited programmes. Courses are available to companies of all sizes and provide flexible models of delivery to suit all needs - from in-person, online or blended learning formats, with tutor support and online resources to enhance the learning experience.

Speaking of the achievement, Mary Lyons, Director of Enterprise, Employees and Skills at SOLAS, says:

“This milestone underlines both the need and appetite for flexible, incremental, and affordable upskilling opportunities that support business growth and career development in Ireland.

“Through its targeted skills development opportunities, the Skills to Advance initiative has empowered thousands of business owners and employees to implement tangible changes in their company, expanding skillsets and pursuing new business directions. 

SOLAS are delighted to see that so many people have benefited from these programmes, and we remain committed to collaborating and working with enterprise to create ongoing upskilling opportunities in key skill areas that meet the needs of Ireland’s growing economy.”

Meeting the Needs of Irish SMEs

In response to the challenges facing Irish SMEs in terms of scaling, change management, and competitiveness, SOLAS and Enterprise Ireland have launched a Leadership and Management Development Programme, under the Skills to Advance initiative. This programme was designed to addresses key leadership and management skills gaps through targeted training - supporting business owners, middle managers and supervisors to lead strategically and with confidence.

McAree Engineering, an Enterprise Ireland client company, has enrolled their employees in several Skills to Advance programmes over the years, including leadership and management modules. Talking about their upskilling journey with Cavan and Monaghan ETB, Claire McAree, Chief Financial Officer at McAree Engineering said: 

“We are third generation and eighty years in business. Part of that success has been the upskilling of our staff through Skills to Advance professional development courses. The advantages of doing training with a local ETB is that they know our business, they tailor the courses to suit you, and at a very reasonable cost that is very beneficial to businesses.”

Danny Connell, Hotel Manager at Castle Arch Hotel and Group Training and Development Manager at Cusack Hotel Group, worked with Louth and Meath ETB to upskill their team members. Speaking of the impacts that Skills to Advance had on the business, he said:

“These programmes completely changed how we approach leadership. The difference in our own outlook and energy has been remarkable. That kind of progress doesn’t just happen by chance, it’s the direct result of investing in people, and it’s something we are deeply proud of. We highly recommend Skills to Advance — it’s an investment in your people, your business, and your future, and the impact is genuinely transformative.”

For more information about Skills to Advance click here