County Tipperary Skillnet hosts successful awareness campaign at Ploughing Championships

Skillnet Ireland marked another successful year at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships, welcoming thousands of visitors to its stand, where businesses and members of the public learned more about the wide range of upskilling opportunities available across its 70 Skillnet Business Networks.

County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet is a multi-sector business network for companies of all sizes in Tipperary and the South East and Mid West Regions.

READ MORE: I DO! Tipperary man weds beautiful Galway bride in special ceremony in her local church

The network’s mission is to support the growth of local businesses and the development of the region through subsidised talent development programmes that are tailored to the needs of the local workforce.

Speaking at the event, Sharon Higgins, Network Manager of County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet, said: “It was fantastic to be at the National Ploughing Championships with Skillnet Ireland this year. The event gave us the chance to meet directly with farmers, agri-business owners, and the public to talk about the wide range of training supports on offer. Upskilling is vital for the future of the businesses we support, and it was great to be able to showcase how County Tipperary Chamber Skillnet and Skillnet Ireland are working together to support businesses here in Tipperary and across the country.”

More than 24,000 businesses participated in upskilling programmes for employees through Skillnet Ireland last year, amounting to 90,136 workers across the Irish economy.

In 2024, over 6,000 farm businesses and 9,750 trainees benefitted from the range of industry-led training and development programmes delivered by Skillnet Ireland.

The national talent development agency delivered over 47,000 training days to businesses operating in the agriculture sector last year.

The biggest age group of trainees was 40-49 year-olds, signalling a strong commitment among mid-career professionals in the sector to embrace upskilling.

READ MORE: Revealed: Danny Frankie Gleeson baptised in Tipperary church and welcomed into community

Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland, said: “Skillnet Ireland is focused on building resilience, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability for Irish farming and agri-food enterprises. By investing in the people who power the sector, we are strengthening agriculture’s role as a pillar of Ireland’s economy for generations to come.”

From organic farmers, growers and processors to food businesses, the programmes delivered by Skillnet Business Networks in 2024 addressed critical needs such as digital transformation, environmental stewardship, and advanced farm management practices.

These supports have equipped agricultural enterprises with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to evolving market demands, embrace sustainable practices, and harness emerging technologies.

Any business of any size, across multiple sectors, can access Skillnet Ireland supports and join relevant Skillnet Business Networks. Sector-specific and regional upskilling supports can be viewed on the Skillnet Ireland website, www.skillnetireland.ie/sectors.

To hear from businesses that have benefited from engaging with Skillnet Business Networks operating the agricultural sector, visit our success stories page online: www.skillnetireland.ie/success-stories.