What is Springboard+

What is Springboard+

Springboard+ is an initiative that aims to provide free/ subsidised education, upskilling and reskilling opportunities through higher education in areas where there is a skills need. Courses are free for people who are unemployed, who were previously self-employed, and for people returning to work. The courses are also available at a 10% fee for anyone in employment looking to upskill or pivot. Many of the courses are flexible and timetable friendly and are structured around part-time, evening or weekend classes

In this way the Springboard+ scheme can be seen as both a constructive way of supporting people back into employment by providing the necessary skills where needed and plugging gaps in industry while at the same time empowering people with those skills and education to enter the marketplace as skilled graduates armed with the required skills to meet the current and future needs of the Irish economy. 

The initiative is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020

Now more than ever the initiative is a necessary link between education and employment.The Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the jobs market and for many people has put them out of work or left them with question marks over their future. Research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that in the final quarter of 2020 there were 205,000+ fewer people in paid work compared to the end of 2019. 

In June 2020 in response  to Covid-19, the government announced almost 17,000 new places to be made available in a wide range of skills areas, including artificial intelligence, smart factory technology, sustainable energy, medical device technology and cybersecurity.

In June 2021 the government launched 10,158 places on 294 courses under Springboard+ 2021. There are also 1,101 places on 1 and 2 year information technology (ICT) graduate conversion courses and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) are also funding 1,869 places on 78 graduate courses.

In the current climate as we are all hoping to  emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Springboard+ 2021 is the perfect initiative to ensure that people have the skills they need to get where they want to go and add to Ireland’s workforce muscle where it is most needed.

If you want to participate in Springboard+ 2021 you will find full details on the approved courses on the dedicated information and applications website.

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