The Furniture and Wood Products Accel Project is a national training initiative which has been set-up by GMIT to promote and facilitate Training and Development in Furniture and Wood Products industry.

The project receives funding from Accel, which is an initiative of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and is managed by Skillnets Services Ltd on its behalf. The Accel programme supports the training of people in employment (In-company training). It aims to give employers and workers an opportunity to rapidly improve, realign or revise their current skills base.
Under the Accel programme, up to €16 million in grant funding will be allocated to approved projects, throughout Ireland, for the period 2006-7. Please view www.acceltraining.com for more information.

The Furnture and Wood Products Accel Project is managed by GMIT, the project manager is Peter Butler.

Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of the Accel Project is to build competitiveness in Irish furniture and wood products manufacturers. This will be achieved by addressing the skills deficits identified in the training needs analysis through high quality flexible training provision, and by providing a forum in which to meet and share information. In recent years the industry has evolved from cost based competition, to competition based on flexibility, lead-time/delivery and quality. The development of a competitive strategy for the sector and supporting this strategy through the activities of the network is a sustaining objective.

Specific objectives include

• Improving competitiveness for the sector and members by focusing on flexibility, customer service (lead-time, delivery and quality), and innovation
• Developing integrated supply chains based on competitive criteria
• Up-skilling the existing workforce
• Increasing the value of employees by developing multi-skilled employees
• Sustaining employment by up-skilling the workforce, developing knowledge workers
• Providing certified courses for employees where possible
• Networking and sharing information between members
• Developing internal training resources within the network companies
• Fostering innovation and the exploitation of technology
• Underpinning strategic action in operations
• Providing a long-term sustainable platform for sector development

Accel is an initiative of the Department of Enterprise, Trade
& Employment and is managed by Skillnets Services Ltd