Retail Ireland Skillnet Celebrates Milestone Graduation with Woodie’s

Retail Ireland Skillnet recently marked a significant milestone with a graduation ceremony celebrating over 100 employees from DIY retailer Woodie's, who achieved their QQI Level 5 Awards in Retail Practice. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the successful partnership between Woodie’s and Retail Ireland Skillnet, a decade-long collaboration focused on developing talent and building careers in Irish retail. 

Established in 2000, Retail Ireland Skillnet is dedicated to advancing training and education within the Irish retail sector. The Skillnet Business Network’s mission is to grow Ireland’s highly competitive retail sector by enhancing specialised skills and knowledge, broadening access to skills development opportunities and encouraging ongoing professional development. 

The Retail Practice Occupational Qualification is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. The accredited, on-the-job development programme is designed to support upskilling in the key areas of modern retailing. 

Theresa Gallagher, Network Manager at Retail Ireland Skillnet, said: “Celebrating 10 years of collaboration with Woodie’s is a significant milestone. This graduation is a powerful example of the impact upskilling can have when businesses invest in workforce development. The flexibility of the Retail Practice programme allows retailers like Woodie’s to embed a strong learning culture, while giving employees the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications that support real career progression.” 

The Retail Practice programme is delivered in collaboration with individual retail stores, with managers and supervisors trained as in-store assessors who guide colleagues through a suite of practical, work-based learning modules. It offers nine modules, including Retail Customer Service, Communications, Safety and Health at Work, and Personal Effectiveness. To achieve the Major Award, learners complete eight modules, including the mandatory Communication, Work Experience and Safety and Health components.  

Retail Ireland Skillnet provides extensive supports, learning materials, quality assurance, and on-site visits, ensuring high standards while allowing retailers to deliver training at a time, place, and pace that suits their business needs. 

To find out more about the programmes and supports delivered by Retail Ireland Skillnet, visit the Skillnet Business Network’s website: www.retailirelandskillnet.com.