Minister O’Donovan Announces Commitment to Upskilling in Construction Sector with New Modern Methods of Construction Initiative

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, has announced that Skillnet Ireland has further strengthened its commitment to provide upskilling and business supports to the construction sector through its new Skillnet MMC Accelerate initiative.

Skillnet Ireland and industry body the Construction IT Alliance (CitA), have collaborated to provide businesses with upskilling resources that will accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to become day to day construction practices. The new national online platform, Skillnet MMC Accelerate, will provide a tool, for people working in the construction industry and those looking to understand more about it, to navigate the upskilling ecosystem in the context of modern methods of construction.

Minister O’Donovan said; “We are committed to finding solutions that will positively impact the Housing for All commitments in both the long and short term. I am very pleased to see Skillnet Ireland and CitA along with other stakeholders within the sector collaborating to develop Skillnet MMC Accelerate.  Collaborative initiatives like this one play a pivotal role in supporting SMEs in the construction sector, and also make a significant contribution to Ireland’s climate targets.”

The Skillnet MMC Accelerate platform, which is currently in development, will showcase the MMC industry, highlight upcoming projects and investment in MMC, display future MMC career pathways, align the education and training ecosystem to these career pathways, and provide links to other government, academic and industry supports available. In the coming years, a range of new MMC upskilling supports will also be rolled out as part of this initiative to complement existing supports available.

Mark Jordan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland said; “Skillnet Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of Skillnet MMC Accelerate in partnership with Construction IT Alliance (CitA). This will create a vital resource for construction firms and workers seeking to expand their business horizons and the capacity to employ innovative MMC construction practices. Sustainability is a top priority for all businesses, and through this collaboration, construction companies can benefit from access to the talent, upskilling supports, knowledge, and networks that will help to accelerate their adoption of MMC.”

Alan Hore, Founding Partner, Cita, and Director, Skillnet MMC Accelerate said; “We are very pleased to bring this support to businesses and wider stakeholders to fruition at this crucial time for the construction industry in Ireland. Skillnet MMC Accelerate is a national resource that has been developed in collaboration with expert industry practitioners. This collaborative approach, which paves the way for the exchange of knowledge and expertise is invaluable. This ethos is at the heart of the Skillnet MMC Accelerate initiative and we encourage everyone working in the construction industry to use this new tool and learn more about MMC and its potential.”

As part of the pathway to developing this initiative, Skillnet Ireland published a report in 2022 in collaboration with Construction Professional Skillnet, which provided vital insights and learnings about modern methods of construction. The impact of introducing skills initiatives for the construction industry with a focus on modern methodologies, has vast potential including addressing labour shortages, facilitating the transition to net zero and contributing towards a solution for housing issues in the Irish economy.

Conor Murtagh, Chief Strategy Officer with Glenveagh, said: “At Glenveagh, we take pride in the delivery of high-quality, sustainable homes using modern construction methods (MMC). We’re proud to support the Skillnet MMC Accelerate initiative with CitA, creating pathways for careers in MMC. To maintain excellence, we need industry-leading talent across the entire value chain, ensuring the development of essential skills for constructing modern homes and laying foundations for future growth and success of the industry.”

Skillnet MMC Accelerate will host an Information Series beginning in September at CPAC Modular, in County Meath, one of Ireland’s leading companies that specialises in modern methods of construction. The event, one of four, will see attendees learn more about the latest advancements in modern methods of construction and the challenges to be overcome in accelerating its increased use in Irish construction. In particular, these events will aim to provide insights into the appropriate adoption of different modern methods of construction techniques, facilitate wider engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders and emphasize the sustainability and productivity benefits associated with the increased use of modern methods of construction.

Further details on the upcoming MMC Accelerate Information Series will be available on www.cita.ie