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Pact for Skills
  • News article
  • 12 August 2024
  • Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  • 1 min read

New Regional Skills Partnership upskills Ireland’s coastal areas to keep blue economy afloat

Regional Partnership B More

Addressing the growing skills gap in the blue economy is key to preventing jobs loss in Ireland’s Beara Peninsula.  

The Pact for Skills has launched the ‘Regional Skills Partnership for the Beara Peninsula, Marine and Offshore Renewable Energy’ in Ireland, a grassroots initiative working towards upskilling the blue economy by implementing the 2020 EU strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy. 

The Partnership aims to help against the loss of over 150 jobs and a devalued maritime value chain in the region due to post-Brexit fishing cessation. Supported by local government, the Partnership also aims to address growing skills shortages that prevent smart specialisation in the region’s blue economy. 

By establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence, the region hopes to attract young workers and reskill the local population in marine technology, aquaculture, boat building and offshore renewables. 

Part of this strategy involves creating technical and academic educational programmes for reskilling, which will attract young workers to jobs in offshore renewable energy and drive Ireland's green and digital transition in emerging blue economy industries. 

The Maritime Industry in Beara has also created a steering group to develop the skills ecosystem within the region, bringing together isolated coastal and Island communities. 

The partnership has committed to two pledges. First, to work with local and regional stakeholders to deliver training and skills development that responds to local skills needs in the region's smart specialisations sectors. Second, to implement a sectoral education, training, upskilling, and reskilling framework that increases competitiveness and enhances job attractiveness and retention. 

Take a look at the Partnership declaration: 

 

  • General publications
  • 12 August 2024
BEARA Partnership declaration

 

 

Details