Over 400 Longford and Roscommon businesses upskill and reskill their employees

Over 960 people and 400 businesses in Longford and Roscommon chose Skillnet Business Networks and National Initiatives to develop skills, improve competitiveness, and prepare for the future, in 2025.

Figures from the Skillnet Ireland Annual Report, reveal the national agency for talent development delivered 8,900 training days in Longford and Roscommon last year.

Just over half of those (54%) who undertook training were men and 46% were women, while those aged 30-to-39 availed of upskilling supports more than any other age group.

Commenting on the uptake of Skillnet Ireland supports from businesses in 2025, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: “Skillnet Ireland’s 2025 Annual Report highlights the strong commitment of both Government and enterprise to investing in the skills and capabilities of our workforce.

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"The engagement of more than 23,000 businesses in Skillnet Ireland programmes during the year demonstrates a clear recognition that skills development is essential to driving productivity, growth and competitiveness.

"As our economy continues to evolve, supporting lifelong learning and workforce development is more important than ever.

"Through Skillnet Ireland, we are helping businesses of all sizes to respond to changing skills needs, embrace new technologies and seize emerging opportunities."

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Mr Lawless said the Government remains committed to ensuring that 'enterprises across every sector and region have access to the talent and expertise they need to grow, compete and succeed'.

"The vast majority (95%) of companies in Roscommon and Longford that upskilled their employees with Skillnet Ireland in 2025 were small and medium-size enterprises.

"The greatest uptake came from the agriculture sector followed by services, retail, food & drink, health, legal and manufacturing.

“Companies based in Roscommon and Longford undertook upskilling programmes with more than 50 of the 70 Skillnet Business Networks based on the sector in which their company operates, or with one of the Networks in their region, which include Midland Border East Skillnet, National Organic Training Skillnet and Taste 4 Success Skillnet."