Digitalisation and AI Skills Are No Longer Optional – They Are Essential for Business Success

Opportunities presented by digitalisation and AI go beyond traditional generational shifts; they will require fundamental change in the mindsets of business leaders

Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes was quick to engage with Skillnet Ireland’s new chief executive, Mark Jordan, following his appointment in March 2025, by inviting him to address a luncheon to mark the tenth anniversary of Shannon Chamber Skillnet.

The event, which took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick last week, attracted a guest list which included Chamber member companies, representatives from Skillnet Ireland, Skillnet Business Networks in the Mid-West region, the tertiary education sector and private training providers.

Skillnet Ireland is recognised internationally as a best practice model for workforce development, supporting the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses. Under the leadership of newly appointed chief executive Mark Jordan, the organisation remains committed to building on its excellent track record of the past 26 years.

Since its inception in 1999, Skillnet Ireland, via its 70 Business Networks, which includes Shannon Chamber Skillnet, has continually evolved. This evolution is reflected in the expanding profile of the businesses it supports, the deepening and diversification of its engagement strategies, and the ongoing development of innovative support schemes tailored to the needs of industry.

“Our success depends on aligning Skillnet Ireland’s work with national strategies, including the National Digital and the National AI Strategies,” said Mark Jordan.

“To remain relevant, we need to anticipate change and have meaningful conversations with companies to bridge the gap in skills development. This is particularly important as 59% of SMEs and MNCs expect their core skills to undergo a major shift in the next two to three years, and that, by 2027, 50% of today’s skills will be obsolete,” he added.

Focusing on future skill requirements, Mr. Jordan stated: “Digitalisation will play a critical role in helping companies become more resilient nationally and internationally. Technologies such as machine learning and AI will be central in the transformational journey of companies in many sectors, as will sustainable business practices, which have become an integral part of Ireland’s enterprise sector”.

Highlighting regional achievements, he noted: “In the past year alone, 3,000 businesses in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, upskilled 7,000 people through Skillnet Ireland programmes. That level of engagement is impressive, and it’s only set to grow.”

Mr Jordan was joined on the podium by representatives from Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG), Element Six and Engine Lease Finance Corporation (ELFC) for a lively question and answer session moderated by Shannon Chamber Skillnet Network Manager, Alan Kelly.

Trevor Rogers, organisation development manager with AAG, Stephen Linnane, general manager, Element Six, and Maria Frost, senior vice president, human resources at ELFC, brought valuable insights into the strategic importance of keeping employees’ skills aligned with the evolving needs of industry. During a panel discussion, they shared their views on topics as diverse as: people development during a corporate merger, addressing skills gaps post-apprenticeships, Skillnet Ireland as an operating model, the future of learning and development and the growing relevance of sustainability literacy.

They highlighted the benefits of having balanced skills within an organisation and discussed the positive payback, in terms of mindset shift and increased motivation, that can result from introducing a skills-based pay programme, as well as the urgency of prioritising digital literacy across all sectors.

Having witnessed, first hand, a clear escalation in the demand for talent development programmes, Shannon Chamber CEO, Helen Downes, said that operating a Skillnet Business Network has enabled the Chamber to help local businesses access affordable, high-quality training while simultaneously staying aligned with national workforce development priorities.

“It has ensured that the training offered has been shaped by real business needs, through bringing diverse stakeholders together, from SMEs to multinationals, under one network to tackle common training challenges and opportunities. It has enabled us to leverage insights and frameworks from a national skills agency to contribute to productivity gains, innovation capacity, and talent retention in the region.

“The very evident escalation in demand for talent development programmes is a testament to the commitment of companies in this region to invest in their people. More than ever, businesses understand the importance of helping their teams reach their full potential, and many are choosing to do that through collaboration with Skillnet Ireland.

“As we enter our second decade as a Skillnet Business Network, we look forward to enhanced collaboration with our members to ensure that their employees upskill in areas such as digital transformation, leadership, and sustainability. This will enable them to stay competitive in global markets and help them to retain top talent locally,” added Ms Downes.

The luncheon event in the Radisson Blu Hotel was sponsored by Career Decision, Reagecon, and Pepper Advantage.